When asked about an interception he threw in last weekend’s Black/White Mock Game, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said, “I think the defense knows our hand signals by now.”

And they should, because for the last five months, Bengals players have seen nothing but black and orange while lining up against each other through minicamp, OTAs and training camp. But all of that changes tonight at 7:30 when the Bengals take on the New York Jets in their preseason opener at Paul Brown Stadium.

The Jets, with their bombastic head coach, shirtless quarterback and punch-happy players who had three fights during a single practice earlier this week, will bring a circus-like atmosphere into the game. But Rex Ryan, Tim Tebow and Co. also pack a swagger and talent level that will provide the exact type of test Bengals coach Marvin Lewis wants for his young squad.

“The Jets are a physical team, and they’re very well coached in all three phases,” Lewis said. “So it’s a great opening preseason game for us. Our young guys will get challenged, just like our guys that will run out there first as starters will get challenged. This is the kind of game you want to play in the preseason.”

Lewis played most of his starters the entire first half in last year’s preseason opener at Detroit, but that was due in large part to the non-existent offseason and condensed training camp in wake of the lockout.

“We’ll see how they do and how we’re going, but I doubt that they would play that much,” Lewis said. “We’ll give them certain goals to reach, and if they reach them they can earn their way out or in, whatever way you want to look at it. I think it’s a great opportunity for us to look at some guys who haven’t played as much.”

Lewis has assembled perhaps the deepest and most competitive roster in his 10 years with the Bengals, and there are important — and difficult — decisions to be made further down the depth chart, decisions that can’t be based solely on two-hour practices in shoulder pads and shorts.

“Obviously the offensive and defensive lines have to play live football in order to know what they can really do,” Lewis said. “Your runners have to have to have live football to figure out what they can do. And you have to tackle on defense.”

The third and fourth quarters with their third and fourth stringers may not keep the interest of most fans, but the coaches — and even some of the since-removed starters — will be paying close attention.

“That’s always a fun part of the preseason, to watch some of the guys you feel like have really come along and see them get an opportunity to go out and prove themselves,” starting offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “That’s part of the greatness of this game. Any given year, a guy can come out and the lightbulb turns on. You see it every year, a player goes from a nobody to All-Pro. It’s exciting to watch that.”