Jets vs. Vikings: What Are Experts Saying About New York?
After a puzzling yet competitive performance against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13, the New York Jets take their power rushing attack on the road against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings' 24th-ranked rush defense is enough to draw the conclusion that a heavy dose of Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson is imminent. Rex Ryan has touted this basic offensive attack as the best strategy for winning games.
Sadly, Ryan is correct in his assessment.
Despite New York putting together a game plan that limits quarterback Geno Smith’s mistakes, while showcasing the league’s second-best rushing attack, experts still favor the Vikings to pull out a victory.
The experts’ outlook on Gang Green’s upcoming matchup is based on the Jets’ inability to defend the pass and a couple of key injuries on the roster.
Jane McManus: Muhammad Wilkerson Doubtful
1 of 5
According to ESPN New York reporter Jane McManus, Muhammad Wilkerson will likely miss consecutive games due to turf toe.
Wilkerson’s absence will impact the Jets’ ability to stop Minnesota’s formidable rushing attack, averaging 114.5 yards per game.
At this point in the season, when losing teams are becoming harder to play for, going on injured reserve and collecting millions isn’t Wilkerson’s motive. He actually wants to get back on the field, but he admits he has to feel comfortable with his footing.
Kevin Kernan: Nick Folk Injured
2 of 5
Despite missing two field goals against the Dolphins, Jets kicker Nick Folk has been Gang Green's most consistent scorer. He has made 20 of 24 field goals this year, but it’s possible the Jets may be without their place-kicker Sunday.
According to New York Post reporter Kevin Kernan, Folk has a hip flexor injury, which Ryan was completely unaware of until Tuesday.
"'I really haven’t talked to Nick about when this thing happened, when it occurred,' Ryan said Tuesday, noting he had just found out about the injury. Ryan was not sure which hip Folk injured.
The Jets worked out a kicker, Andrew Furney, and two punters, Jacob Schum and Kasey Redfern, but those workouts were scheduled weeks ago.
"
The Jets cannot afford to lose any consistency on offense. Scoring has been a difficult task throughout the season. New York has topped 20 points in only four of its 12 games thus far.
Without Folk, expect a significant struggle to put points on the scoreboard, unless the rushing attack is able to capitalize in the red zone.
Rich Cimini: Jets' Run-Heavy Offense Should Concern Vikings
3 of 5
ESPN New York reporter Rich Cimini perceives the Jets' rushing attack as a viable threat to the Vikings defense. However, he also underscores the reality that the Jets don't have any other practical option of attack on offense.
"The Vikings should be worried because if there's one thing the Jets do well, it's run the football. They do it in a variety of ways -- read-option, jet sweeps, end around and an occasional wishbone look, if you can believe that. On Monday night, they rushed for 277 yards, becoming only the fifth team in the past 30 years to rush for that many yards and lose. Chris Johnson, coming off a season-high 105 yards, is fresh because he hasn't been used much. Expect another heavy ground attack, in part, because the coaching staff has little confidence in Smith's decision-making and throwing ability.
"
Ryan made it clear to the media he wasn’t going to throw his quarterback under the bus. He repeated the focus of winning the game with the best possible strategy but omitted the fact his quarterback wasn’t exactly quarterbacking but simply handing off to the playmakers for a majority of the game.
Now that Smith has returned, the game plan has been minimized to a rotation of clever run plays that were effective last week and could be effective this week against a shaky defensive front.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
NFL Live Pick: Vikings
4 of 5
NFL Live made a unanimous pick in favor of the Vikings.
At 5-7, Minnesota is not a helpless team. ESPN analyst Darren Woodson highlights the admirable job Mike Zimmer has done coaching this young roster to be competitive week to week.
Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has capable offensive skill players to attack the Jets secondary.
Greg Jennings has scored a touchdown in each of the last two games and continues to build a rapport with the rookie signal-caller.
Cordarrelle Patterson is a bigger receiver with speed who presents a matchup issue for the Jets cornerbacks. Rookies Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant have both had success against the Jets using their size—and, in Watkins' case, speed.
Bridgewater also has a solid red-zone target in former Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph, who is playing in his second game after recovering from a groin injury.
The Jets secondary will face an underrated passing offense that will continue making strides in the right direction this week.
Bleacher Report Consensus Pick: Vikings
5 of 5
Bleacher Report’s Expert Consensus also favors the Vikings heavily. NFL National Writer Mike Tanier highlighted an issue within the Jets offense that hasn’t received much press:
"Giacomini was one of the weak links in the Seahawks line when it suffered multiple injuries in 2013. He lacks strength and sustainability as a run-blocker, which is a big problem because the Jets want to run the football 75 percent of the time these days. He has to get covered up as a pass protector, so we get sights like Cameron Wake wrenching tight end Jeff Cumberland backward and throwing him into Geno Smith. Right tackle should not be some hard-to-fill position, but it has become a hidden problem beneath the Jets' many glaring problems.
The Vikings have a lot of depth and talent on their front four this season, and with the days when the Jets line was their only offensive strength long gone (and the Jets' run-at-all-costs desperation exposed), this game could be over before it starts.
"
New York’s relentless rushing philosophy places a lot of emphasis on run-blocking responsibilities. If the Jets want to run the ball 30-plus times a game, they’ll need a strong offensive line to keep gap-shooters at bay.
It’s plausible to think the Seattle Seahawks allowed Breno Giacomini to walk away because of an underwhelming 2013 season.
As Tanier mentioned, it’s questionable as to whether Giacomini can sustain his blocking assignments in a run-heavy offense. He played in nine games in an injury-plagued season in Seattle, which required the tackle to undergo surgery on an aching knee, per Pro Football Talk.
The former Seahawks tackle was efficient last week against the Dolphins. This week, Giacomini is matched against Everson Griffen, who is having a potential Pro Bowl year. Griffen has 24 run stops this season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He also has 11 sacks rushing off the edge.
If the Jets decide to give Smith more opportunities to throw, Giacomini will be tested in multiple ways this Sunday.
What is certain is that Griffen will cause some havoc. Nonetheless, New York will run the ball efficiently but fail to score enough points to win in a close contest.
Prediction: Vikings 20 – Jets 13
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
