5 Most Pivotal Games on New York Jets' 2015 Schedule
The New York Jets look to redeem themselves after an abysmal 2014 season under the dysfunctional John Idzik-Rex Ryan regime.
The redemption comes in the form of nostalgia with the return of cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Last season, the Jets secondary posed as a bull's-eye for opposing quarterbacks, but that won’t be the case in 2015. However, a new season brings new problems.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini and Adam Schefter, quarterback Geno Smith suffered a broken jaw in an altercation with a teammate:
"New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith will be sidelined six to 10 weeks with two fractures in his jaw, the result of a locker-room altercation Tuesday morning with reserve linebacker IK Enemkpali. Smith was "cold-cocked ... sucker-punched, whatever you want to call it," coach Todd Bowles said in a pre-practice briefing with reporters.
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According to head coach Todd Bowles, via Newsday writer Bob Glauber on Twitter, veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick takes over as the starter without a guarantee on Smith's return.
Questions surrounded the Jets' quarterback situation prior to the locker room incident. Now Fitzpatrick steps in with some certainty in his game. He’s mobile but cannot tuck the ball and run like Smith. However, he's a more accurate passer with a career 60 percent completion percentage.
Initially, it was reasonable to expect the Jets to turn it around this season and churn out 10 wins with a mediocre Smith, at best, under center.
Gang Green can still accomplish a 10-win season with Fitzpatrick as the starter in the beginning of the season. According to CBSSports.com, the Jets' watered-down schedule ranks 18th in the league.
Fitzpatrick threw for 71 touchdowns and 54 interceptions in three seasons between 2010-12 under offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who held the head coaching position with the Buffalo Bills in that time frame.
Say what you want about Fitzpatrick’s mediocrity, but that’s all the Jets need with a defense stacked with talent featuring seven potential starting first-round picks (excluding defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson).
Here are some pivotal games, beyond just division rivals, on the Jets schedule that could propel the team into a wild-card spot in the 2015 postseason.
Week 2 at Indianapolis
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Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brandon Marshall must build a rapport rather quickly to compete with the Indianapolis Colts' high-powered offense. The Colts added wide receivers Andre Johnson and Phillip Dorsett to an already-potent passing attack. This matchup will test the Jets' revamped secondary to the max early in the season.
The Colts went 6-2 on their turf in 2014. The New England Patriots dealt the Colts their last home loss in Week 11.
Indianapolis surrendered 113.4 rushing yards per game on the ground last season. Running back Chris Ivory returns to the backfield with solid backups in Zac Stacy, Bilal Powell and possibly Stevan Ridley, pending his rate of recovery.
It’s in the Jets' best interest to slow the game down and turn it into a meat-grinding, ground-and-pound type of contest, a style reminiscent of Ryan’s game plan against Peyton Manning when he took snaps in a Colts uniform.
Luck isn’t Manning, and he’ll occasionally toss up an interception. The Jets must create and take advantage of those potential extra possessions. The battle between the Jets secondary and the Colts offense projects as a must-watch battle.
Week 10 vs. Buffalo Bills
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Based on Cimini’s initial report, Smith should return in full swing to face his former head coach, unless Fitzpatrick comes out firing on all cylinders.
The Buffalo Bills embarrassed Gang Green twice last year. Now Ryan walks the opposing sideline making this division game a must-see matchup.
The Jets' quarterback situation pales in comparison to the Bills' situation. None of the Bills quarterbacks, whether it’s Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel, Matt Simms or Tyrod Taylor, pose a threat to the Jets secondary despite the exceptional talent of wide receiver Sammy Watkins.
We all know Ryan, and he’ll likely implement a ground-and-pound approach to avoid challenging the secondary with a weak quarterback. Bowles should resort to giving Ryan a dose of his own medicine with a trio of running backs grinding away at Buffalo’s defense.
The Bills have the best running back on the field in LeSean McCoy, but the Jets constructed a better stable of running backs in the offseason with the addition of Stacy and Ridley pairing with Ivory and Powell.
Buffalo fields a tough defense known for racking up sacks, but it gave up an average 106.4 yards on the ground in 2014. This matchup features two heavyweight defenses with two defensive savants pulling the strings in Ryan and Bowles, but the better offense shall prevail.
Ryan serves as the spark plug in this contest. His detractors will look to discredit what he accomplished with the Jets. Staunch Ryan supporters will continue to say Bowles cannot provide much more than Ryan aside from discipline—now refutable with Smith's locker room altercation with linebacker IK Enemkpali.
Week 13 at New York Giants
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The in-stadium battle between Gang Green and Big Blue serves as the game that could tip the Jets in the direction of the postseason.
The New York Giants have major questions on the right side of the offensive line, an area where the Jets could exploit their inexperience.
Richardson’s status for the season remains unknown, but the combination of defensive ends Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams with nose tackle Damon Harrison should hold firm on the front line of attack.
Williams provided a strong pass rush and blew up plays in the backfield during his college years, recording 36.5 tackles for a loss and 21 sacks in three seasons at the University of Southern California. At this point in the season, Williams should have a firm grasp on his role within the defense in the potential absence of Richardson.
The Jets must generate pressure on quarterback Eli Manning to neutralize his outlet to wide receivers Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr.
New York’s stingy front seven matches up well against a stable of running backs without a 1,000-yard season. Running back Shane Vereen poses the biggest threat catching out of the backfield. The linebackers must contain his catch-and-run production.
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Week 15 at Dallas Cowboys
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This is the first game of a late back-to-back deal breaker for the Jets' season, starting with the Dallas Cowboys followed by the Patriots in Week 16.
Upon first glance, it seems the Cowboys stand way above the Jets. On the contrary, running back DeMarco Murray took his talents to the Philadelphia Eagles. This leaves the Cowboys with a broken-down Darren McFadden and unproven running backs Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle.
The Cowboys are already dealing with injuries to all three running backs. According to the team's official website, Randle's injury is the most recent.
Randle and Dunbar had minuscule spurts of production last season, but there was nothing substantial to provide hope that either back is capable of carrying the offense in similar fashion to Murray.
The Cowboys found a winning formula in decreasing quarterback Tony Romo’s throws and leaning on a rushing attack that featured a Pro Bowler. The dynamic of the Cowboys offense changes without Murray and likely reverts back to placing an immense amount of pressure on Romo.
Yes, wide receiver Dez Bryant remains a focal point on the offense, but an improved Jets secondary should challenge the vertical attack. Safeties Marcus Gilchrist and Calvin Pryor matching up against tight end Jason Witten as Romo’s second-best receiving option should decide the outcome of this contest.
The Cowboys remain below average in pass defense, ranking 26th in passing yards allowed in 2014. The underwhelming trio of Brandon Carr, Orlando Scandrick and Morris Claiborne returns—all three are potential starters at cornerback.
Smith must feast on the secondary with Marshall, Eric Decker and a slot receiver, while the defense must force Romo to play the hero on offense.
Week 16 vs. New England
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To Smith’s credit, he hasn’t self-destructed against the Patriots in the past. In fact, the Jets only lost by one point at home and two points on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions in 2014.
The Patriots secondary lacks the prominence of the previous year without a rangy defender in Brandon Browner and a perennial Pro Bowler in Revis at cornerback.
Marshall’s involvement within the offense becomes a crucial tool in carving up the Patriots secondary. Cornerback Malcolm Butler made a miraculous play at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX, but he only started one game during the season and remains an unknown as a constant fixture in the secondary.
Cornerback Bradley Fletcher joins Butler in the secondary after getting torched repeatedly with the Eagles.
Quarterback Tom Brady’s chess match with Revis and Cromartie projects as the key matchup. Wide receivers Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell must free themselves of air-tight coverage to earn a victory.
New York’s most daunting task focuses on slowing down tight end Rob Gronkowski with safety help over the top.
Smith and Marshall’s early offseason rapport should exhibit some value in this late-season matchup that could decide whether or not the Jets earn a playoff spot.
Which games are you looking forward to on the Jets schedule? Share your comments below. Follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for Jets' training camp news.
All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, Sports-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.
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