Jets Week Two Preview
After a letdown on Monday Night Football versus the San Francisco 49ers, the Jets look to right the ship and get back to an even record. They continue their road streak as they move from the West Coast to Tennessee to face the Titans. Both teams enter the game 0-1 and are searching for the first win of the season. The Jets come in as 3.5-point favorites on the road.
The biggest concern for the Jets in the first game was the defensive line, as the 49ers ran the ball 38 times and rushed for 180 yards. In addition, Brock Purdy had a clean pocket time and time again when throwing the ball, only being pressured four times throughout the game. As a defensive-minded head coach, it’s on Robert Saleh to correct the glaring issue from last week. The defensive line was one of the biggest positives for the Jets last season, so if they can step up and put pressure on Will Levis, the Jets’ defense should have a field day. It’s crucial for the Jets to force pressure on Levis, who is coming off a brutal opening game with 127 yards and two interceptions.
The defense will open major room for the offense to operate. The Jets were out-possessed 21:20 to 38:40 against the 49ers. This needs to flip for the Jets to be successful, allowing more time for the defense to rest and the offense to get going. The offense had some early issues against the 49ers, but then scored the first touchdown of the game, taking a 7-3 lead in game one. In most situations, that puts the Jets in great territory for Aaron Rodgers and the defense to play with a lead. Keeping a lead will be determined by the run game that struggled majorly last week.
The pass protection for Rodgers was great and Breece Hall was involved heavily, but stagnant when it came to handoffs. Hall averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, creating problems for the offense. The Jets need to get the running game going early to open more options. In addition, this Jets team will need Allen Lazard to repeat his week one success or a second option in the passing game to rise to the occasion. Garrett Wilson will have a tough assignment with L’Jarius Sneed on him, so New York will need more options to get their offense rolling.
On paper, this Jets team looks equipped to handle the Titans. The Bears’ defense is impressive, but the entire NFL knows the capabilities that the Jets’ defense brings. This team should force major problems for Levis and company, giving them an advantage on both sides of the ball. If things go sideways in a game where the Jets have a clear advantage, the panic meter will be extremely high for this team, and many questions will arise about Robert Saleh’s head coaching position.
