The New York Jets and Denver Broncos haven't faced one another very often in recent years, but please believe there's still a very strong sense of animosity for the ponies. Perhaps it's more on the behalf of Jets' fans, but it certainly does exist.
The last time the Jets and Broncos faced off, Denver shut out the Jets at Mile High Stadium with a score of 27-0. Jake Plummer was quarterback, and the Jets ran through three different ones.
That season was a dark one for New York with the QB carousel spiraling out of control. It was the last year of the Herman Edwards Ages, and what would ultimately usher in the football renaissance New York is experiencing now.
The last time the New York Jets were as competitive and dominant as they are now was 1998. Their road to the Super Bowl resulted in a dead end at Mile High when the Broncos bounced back from a 10-0 halftime deficit.
Denver won the game 23-10. New York's success since then has been inconsistent, having been only one field goal away from returning to the AFC Championship in 2004.
But it's a new season with new faces. It seems every time these teams play against one another, the only consistency is Mike Shanahan.
The Broncos are currently sitting on top of their division, and are in hot pursuit of a playoff-berth. Their winning record can be credited mostly to being in a weak division, although they are fresh off an upset to the Oakland Raiders.
But that's nothing to discredit the Broncos for—the Raiders beat the Jets, too. In fact, that game may have been the catalyst that kicked New York into high gear.
Regardless of Denver's mediocrity on defense, and inconsistency with the run, they're still a dangerous team. The Broncos are capable of winning games decisively, and in shootouts.
This is what the Jets need to avoid.
Neutralizing the Passing Game
Denver's reputation has always revolved around the run game. It's known as the only place where if a running back can't succeed then he doesn't belong in the NFL. Shanahan's blocking schemes have allowed for the Broncos to insert almost anyone, and never have a drop off in production.
The 2008 season hasn't been as kind to his system.
The way the league flipped upside-down this season, it should be no surprise that Denver's bread and butter is with the passing game. Jay Cutler has been phenomenal, racking up yards by the chunks, and turning Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall into elite receivers.
This spells danger for the New York Jets and their 26th-ranked pass defense.
The Jets have allowed an average of 240 yards through the air in 2008, and show no signs of slowing that down. It's one thing to face the league's best quarterbacks and be exposed through the air—it's a completely different thing when Tyler Thigpen, Ryan Fitzpatrick, JaMarcus Russell, and Matt Cassel have career days against them.
However, it's not all gloom and doom. The Jets may allow a ridiculous amount of yards through the air, but they sit around the middle of the league, only giving up 15 touchdowns through the air—the majority of which came from Kurt Warner in Week Four.
Sunday won't be about Denver attacking New York's weaknesses, though. It'll be about them trying to make something happen in the only area they've had success. It's going to be New York's job to limit that production.
The pressure will be on Darrelle Revis, Kerry Rhodes, Ty Law, Dwight Lowery, and Abram Elam. Take away the big play, and force some turnovers. Denver's not running anywhere fast this weekend.
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