Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets: Full New York Game Preview
The mood around Florham Park was just a bit different a few weeks ago. Three weeks ago, to be exact.
Coming off a commanding victory over the Washington Redskins in Week 6, the Jets were sitting pretty at 4-1, one game out of first place in the AFC East and ready to show they belonged in the discussion of the top teams in the conference.
Then the Jets lost to the Patriots, dropping their record to 4-2.
Then the Jets lost to the Raiders, dropping their record to 4-3.
Now, the Jets enter Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a must-win situation.
Coming off back-to-back losses, New York's once promising start to 2015 is in danger of slipping away. The team desperately needs a spark and to snap this current two-game skid. The Jaguars, meanwhile, are beginning to come together thanks to a group of talented playmakers who are learning to play together.
After getting beaten up his rookie season, second-year quarterback Blake Bortles now takes to the line with fellow rookie T.J. Yeldon behind him, Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson split wide and tight end Julius Thomas just a few feet to either his right or left.
Like the Raiders a week ago, these aren't the "same old Jaguars," and if the Jets want to avoid falling victim to another "same old" collapse, they must take Jacksonville seriously.
So, with the Jaguars looking to continue to build momentum for the future and the Jets looking to get their season back on course, what should you watch for on Sunday?
Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Week 8 Recap
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It was never close. Really, it wasn't. From the moment the game began to when the final whistle mercifully signaled its conclusion, the Oakland Raiders dominated the New York Jets in nearly every facet on their way to a 34-20 victory.
Oakland quarterback Derek Carr orchestrated three straight touchdown drives to begin the game and finished 23-of-36 for 333 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Running back Latavius Murray ran for 113 yards (the Jets entered averaging an NFL-best 71.5). Receiver Michael Crabtree caught seven passes for 102 yards and a score.
As a unit, the Raiders gained nearly 500 yards of offense, while the Jets didn't force a single turnover or bring Carr down once. It was "disgusting" and arguably the worst the defense has looked all year.
"The defense didn't play good," Jets coach Todd Bowles said after the game.
Offensively, the Jets lost starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on the game's first drive after he tore ligaments in his thumb on a scramble. Backup Geno Smith entered and looked good at times, but he struggled down the stretch with a pair of boneheaded mistakes. The running game was non-existent as backs Zac Stacy and Chris Ivory were able to muster just 60 yards on 18 carries.
From offense, to defense, down to special teams, last Sunday was the worst the Jets have looked all year. Now, the talk all week has been how to erase it from their memory—and erase it quickly.
News and Notes
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What's wrong with the Jets defense?
When the NFL season began, the Jets defense looked like a unit that had all the makings of one that would be one of the league's best.
General manager Mike Maccagnan's offseason spending spree had ended in such a way that had Jet fans salivating at the mouth to see the defense on the field. Gone were the likes of Philip Adams, Kyle Wilson and Dawan Landry; in were Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Marcus Gilchrist and more.
The Jets had, on paper, all the makings of a defense that would rival that of 2011. And through the first eight weeks of the season, the D was as good as advertised. Against the Raiders last Sunday, the unit looked like one that wouldn't have been able to stop a high school team.
While the Raiders 34 points and 451 yards of offense are a bit mind-blowing, arguably the most alarming statistic from the loss was the number of missed tackles. The team missed three on a 36-yard touchdown catch by Michael Crabtree and another four on a 59-yard catch and run up the sideline by Taiwan Jones.
In total, Pro Football Focus saddled the Jets with 19 missed tackles. That's almost unbelievably bad. The unfathomable part? That number isn't accurate.
No, the Jets didn't have fewer than 19. They had more...
"It was in the 20s," Jets coach Todd Bowles said.
This week in practice, the Jets have made it their goal to fix their most glaring weakness from a week ago. On Wednesday, the team was in shoulder pads in order to get a bit more physical. According to Revis, Bowles also implemented additional tackling drills to focus on technique.
Will it work? Well, only time will tell. But one thing is for certain: If the Jets don't find a way to start bringing opponents down, it won't matter which names are spelled out on the depth chart, because the defense won't be very good.
Fitzpatrick it is, but will he be effective?
When the phone was hung up on Todd Bowles' day-after-game press conference Monday, things didn't seem too optimistic regarding the Jets quarterback situation.
Starter Ryan Fitzpatrick had suffered torn ligaments in his thumb, and backup Geno Smith had what the coach deemed a "big bruise" on his shoulder. The only healthy option was Bryce Petty, the rookie fourth-round pick who was far from ready to see the field in any meaningful game.
Bowles teased the idea of adding a quarterback via free agency or even trading for one before Tuesday's deadline. "We're looking at everything," he said.
But Tuesday came and went with no such acquisition being made. On Wednesday, we found out why. Apparently, Fitzpatrick had progressed enough to be get the starting nod for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
At practice Wednesday, Fitzpatrick, who participated in full, sported a new padded glove on his left hand. The glove wasn't form-fitting like that you'd see on skill position players but rather bulky. It was designed to not only prevent further injury but also make things a bit more comfortable for Fitzpatrick under center.
The three biggest question marks surrounding Fitzpatrick and his ability to play are simple. First, can he handle the pain? Second, can he make handoffs with the injured hand? And third, can he take snaps from under center?
He did all three on Wednesday. He's going to play Sunday. The question now is how'll do all in a game situation. And for advice on that, he turned to a close friend.
Fitzpatrick said he got a call from former teammate and present Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, who suffered the same injury in Week 4 of the 2009 season. Palmer, then a quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, finished out the season. He completed 60.5 percent of his passes and threw for 3,094 yards with 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions that year.
"We were able to bounce ideas off each other and all that. He's been a decent asset," Fitzpatrick said. "It was helpful. Having somebody who has done it and gone through it and really somebody who is a good friend of mine. It was just nice to confide in him on that stuff."
While Fitzpatrick will play, it's yet to be seen how effective he will be. The quarterback says his confidence has never been higher, but if he starts to struggle against the Jaguars, the leash may be short.
After all, Smith, who also practiced fully on Wednesday, is itching for his shot.
Banged-up Jets hoping to get some players back
The Jets are banged up. Really banged up. In fact, the rehab area on Wednesday should have been renamed the "who's who" of New York's 53-man roster.
Sitting out and not participating were the team's No. 1 (Brandon Marshall), No. 2 (Eric Decker) and No. 3 (Devin Smith) receivers. Jets starting guard Willie Colon, center Nick Mangold and safety Calvin Pryor also sat out.
Those are, quite literally, five starters, four on the offensive side of the ball. The Jets need to be getting players back for a run at the postseason, but over the last few weeks, it seems the team has been just adding more and more to the injury list, especially at the receiver position.
"It's concerning right now," Bowles said. "We don't have a lot of guys, but it's early. We have a couple of days to let (the wideouts) heal up. I'll be concerned toward the weekend if they aren't making any progress."
While Decker assured all on Wednesday he'd be good to go against the Jaguars, the statuses of Marshall and Smith are much more up in the air. Marshall is dealing with an injured ankle and toe on separate feet, while Smith is dealing with an injured ankle suffered in practice last week.
With Fitzpatrick nicked up as well, not having two of his top three wideouts won't exactly make his job easier.
Latest Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Status |
| Willie Colon | Guard | Knee | DNP | DNP | LTD | QST |
| Eric Decker | WR | Knee | DNP | DNP | FULL | PROB |
| Nick Mangold | C | Neck | DNP | LTD | FULL | PROB |
| Brandon Marshall | WR | Ankle/Toe | DNP | LTD | LTD | QST |
| Calvin Pryor | S | Ankle | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| Devin Smith | WR | Ankle | DNP | LTD | FULL | PROB |
| Kellen Davis | TE | Hand | LTD | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Bilal Powell | RB | Ankle | LTD | LTD | LTD | DBT |
| Buster Skrine | CB | Shoulder/Hand | LTD | LTD | LTD | QST |
| Antonio Cromartie | CB | Hip | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | QB | Hand | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Chris Ivory | RB | Hamstring | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Dexter McDougle | CB | Ankle | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Stevan Ridley | RB | Knee | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Geno Smith | QB | Shoulder | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
Chart Codes: TBD (to be determined); DNP (did not practice); LTD (limited); Probable (75 percent chance of playing); Questionable (50 percent chance of playing); Doubtful (25 percent chance of playing); Out (zero percent chance of playing)
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Key Matchups
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Jets Pass Rush vs. Jaguars Offensive Line
One of the glaring and more troubling sights, or lack of sights, from Thursday game against the Oakland Raiders was the fact that Derek Carr had time to read a newspaper in the pocket.
The second-year quarterback could drop back, hit his back foot, scan the field, find the open receiver and then get him the ball. Carr was able to accomplish that before any Jets defender could get anywhere near him. Blitzes didn't work, and four-man rushes didn't work.
Carr had all day.
While the Jets spent every last penny upgrading the defense, the team never really brought in a pure pass-rusher. There was rookie Lorenzo Mauldin in the third round, but he wasn't viewed as a player ready to dominate right away. There was Leonard Williams in the first, but he's more of a prototypical 3-4 defensive end, not a pure pass-rusher.
The Jets figured they'd be able to compensate by having an elite secondary and blitzing on occasion. The lockdown corners on the outside would give any defender enough time to get to the quarterback. In situations where the team needed to get there quicker, the Jets would bring the heat.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles loves to stretch the field. In order to do that, he'll need time in the pocket. The key for the Jets will be to not give him that. If the rush can't get there, that won't be an easy accomplishment.
Antonio Cromartie vs. Allen Hurns
The Jaguars have their big-play wideout in Allen Robinson, and as a result, he'll likely be taking a vacation to Revis Island on Sunday.
The Jaguars have quite the No. 2 option in Allen Hurns, who's already caught 31 passes for 513 yards and five scores this year.
Hurns will likely be covered by Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Like Revis, Cromartie is in his return tour with the Jets. Unlike Revis, things aren't going as well for the veteran.
At 31 years old, Cromartie's play has dropped off quite a bit. Of cornerbacks who have played at least 60 percent of their team's snaps, Cromartie is Pro Football Focus' 52nd-ranked corner. In seven games, he has allowed 21 completions, 387 yards, five touchdowns and an opponent passer rating of 132.5.
He's yet to intercept a pass and has deflected just three. Furthermore, his touchdowns allowed are tied for third-most among defensive backs.
"Take away the Raiders game, I think he's played OK," Jets coach Todd Bowles said. "He gave up a play versus Cleveland the first game of the year. He had two solid games before the Raiders game. He had a bad Raiders game, just like everyone else on defense."
Bowles has fielded questions over the last several days on whether it's time to make changes on the defense, and specifically if it's time to send Cromartie to the bench. Possible replacements could include Marcus Williams or Dee Milliner, who can come off short-term injured reserve this week. Bowles has been straightforward in saying he's not making any changes "yet," but if Cromartie doesn't pick up his play soon, the head coach might make a move.
Sunday's game against Jacksonville will be a good chance for Cromartie to get back on track. In 21 career games, Bortles has tossed 25 interceptions.
Matchup X-Factor
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Jets X-Factor of the Week: Nick Mangold
There's a good chance Nick Mangold won't play. After the Jets center suffered a scary neck injury against the New England Patriots, New York has taken a conservative approach: Don't risk any further injury for a player who means so much on the field.
The issue? Mangold, as mentioned above, means an awful lot to the team on the field.
And his not being on the field is beginning to be felt.
Against the Raiders on Sunday, Wesley Johnson filled in for the absent Mangold and played well enough, but the Jets front as a whole struggled. With the O-line having allowed just four quarterback sacks all year before that game, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith were brought down three times against Oakland. On the ground, the rushing attack was putrid.
For the second consecutive week, Chris Ivory was bottled up. The back managed just 17 yards on 15 carries. That's the lowest rushing total of Ivory's career in games he's carried it at least 15 times. Off the bench, Zac Stacy didn't fare much better, gaining only 11 yards on three rushes.
On Wednesday, Mangold sat out of practice, but Jets coach Todd Bowles indicated the team hoped to get him back later in the week.
"He was feeling better today," Bowles said. "I won't know if he's made any major improvements until I see him in practice."
In his 10-year NFL career, Mangold has missed just four games since being named New York's starter, including last week. It's not sitting well with the former first-round pick and six-time Pro Bowler that he's not on the field.
The Jets offense certainly isn't sitting comfortable with him off it, either.
Mangold's status for Sunday's game is up in the air. What he does will be worth monitoring each day this week. But if Mangold does suit up, and if he starts, he's the ultimate X-factor for the Jets, and his value is even clearer after New York's debacle in Oakland.
Prediction
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The Jaguars aren't pushovers. They have several solid players on defense and a whole bunch more on the offensive side of the ball.
But with that being said, it's hard to imagine this primarily veteran Jets team taking another one across the jaw Sunday afternoon.
All week long, the Jets defense has heard the criticisms that it may be overrated. That doesn't sit well with Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson or Darrelle Revis. Heck, after watching last Sunday's film, linebacker David Harris, one of the longest-tenured Jets on the team, called the tape "disgusting."
If the Jets had a younger bunch, there's a good chance all the negative talk could take its toll. But they don't. They have some youth but are primarily savvy older players. New York's defense takes an awful lot of pride in being one of the game's best, and being torn apart on Sunday is still on the players' minds.
The Jaguars are a much better team than they've been for quite some time, but on Sunday, the Jets won't have an issue pulling out a victory.
On offense, look for the Jets to be conservative as to not risk injuring Ryan Fitzpatrick's hand any more. On defense, look for them to play possessed. There will be multiple sacks, multiple turnovers and even a defensive score.
Prediction: Jets 27, Jaguars 10
Connor Hughes is the New York Jets beat writer for the Journal Inquirer and Scout.com. All quotes, practice observations and advanced stats referenced are gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Connor can be reached on Twitter (@Connor_J_Hughes) or via email (Connor_j_hughes@yahoo.com)
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