New York Jets vs. Dallas Cowboys: What's the Game Plan for New York?

In all honesty, this week isn't much different than the last for the New York Jets. 

The team needs a victory to keep pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs for one of the AFC's two wild-card spots. Just like last week. Standing in the way of said victory is an opponent that the Jets should beat. Just like last week. 

New York has everything to play for. The Dallas Cowboys, the Jets' opponent, do not. 

In the sporting world, this is referred to as a "trap game."

But unlike last week when the Jets faced and defeated the three-win Titans in commanding fashion, there are no more questions on if New York will be able to get up against an inferior opponent. Because against Tennessee, the Jets showed all that the team isn't going to look past any opponent, no matter the record. 

So as the Jets get set for Saturday's game against Dallas, what does the team have to do to get a victory? Here's the game plan for New York to improve to 9-5 on the season and keep its playoff hopes alive.

Offensive Game Plan

Brace yourselves for this one...the Jets have an offense that can beat a defense in multiple ways. 

No, that's not a joke. Yes, this is real life.

After years of having one of the NFL's worst offensive attacks, the Jets this season have arguably their most explosive unit since 1998. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is just five passing touchdowns away from breaking the franchise's single-season record, receiver Brandon Marshall is within striking distance of the franchise record for receptions, yards and touchdowns in a season, Eric Decker has caught nine touchdowns and running back Chris Ivory leads the AFC in rushing yards. 

The Jets aren't one dimensional or beating teams one way. They're multi-dimensional. Which is quite the change from how the year started.

For the first few weeks of the season, when Fitzpatrick was still working to develop a chemistry with both Decker and Marshall, the Jets' only hope for offensive success was on the ground. It was up to Ivory to set the tempo, then Fitzpatrick would pick on a secondary with play-action passing or simply target Marshall in single coverage. 

That was working well during the team's 4-1 start, but during the ensuing five games, of which the Jets lost four, it wasn't working so well. Opponents started stacking the box and daring the Jets to throw on them. They would shut down Ivory on first and second down, then play coverage and rush the passer on third. New York's offense was contained. 

Following the Jets' loss to the Houston Texans back on Nov. 22, it looked like the team was ready to fall apart. It couldn't run the ball, couldn't throw the ball and couldn't get out of its own way. That was until Fitzpatrick caught lightning in a bottle. 

Maybe it was finding that chemistry with his targets, maybe it was, as Fitzpatrick has said, simplifying things and not trying to do too much, but whatever "it" is, the results have been staggering. Since dropping four of five, the Jets have won three straight. In those games, Fitzpatrick has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards with nine touchdowns and no interceptions. 

With so many guys up in the box, Fitzpatrick has taken to the air to pick on a secondary that, for the most part, is in man-to-man coverage across the board. Decker is winning his individual battles. Marshall, too. And the result has been a high-powered offensive attack. But now, the passing game's success is beginning to impact the running game. 

That safety that was down in the box to play up on Ivory? He's not there anymore. He's playing deep to help contain the pass...

The result? Ivory is beginning to get going again.

"I have noticed light boxes on certain plays," Ivory told reporters Wednesday. "The passing definitely helps. The receivers are doing a great job on the outside, and that then opens up the run."

From Oct. 25 through Nov. 22, the time period during the Jets' midseason skid, Ivory ran for just 219 yards in five games. In these last three games, he's run for 235.

The Jets suddenly have not just a running game, nor just a passing game, but both.

Against the Cowboys, it's going to be a bit of a cat-and-mouse attack, or game of chess. It's going to be about looking at how Dallas chooses to defend the Jets and then going with an offensive approach that counters that scheme.

If Dallas comes out with a stacked box, Fitzpatrick throws. If Dallas comes out playing two-safety high, Ivory runs. The Jets suddenly have the luxury of not having to do any one thing to have success. With the way the offense is playing, they can see how a defense chooses to try to defend them, then react with a counter. 

Defensive Game Plan

In a perfect world, the Cowboys envision a game Saturday night where quarterback Matt Cassel drops back 20-25 times, throws for roughly 225 yards, maybe a touchdown. But for the most part, the signal-caller's name won't be said much beyond "Cassel lines up under center..."

In a perfect world, the Cowboys will hand the ball off to Darren McFadden 40 times, he'll run rampant through the Jets defense and keep that red-hot New York offense on the sideline. 

The Jets defensive game plan is going to be to ensure that "perfect world" doesn't become the "real world." Because from New York's point of view, the best thing that can happen Saturday is if Cassel is put in a situation where he has to not manage a game, but win a game. 

Since taking over for Brandon Weeden, who took over for an injured Tony Romo, Cassel has played in seven games for Dallas. He's completed 59.2 percent of his passes and thrown for 1,239 yards. Those numbers aren't horrible for a backup. Where Cassel has had his issues has been with the fact he's simply a turnover machine. 

In those seven games, Cassel has thrown six interceptions and fumbled twice. It's almost assured that the more Cassel drops back, the more interceptions he throws. The Jets, possessing one of the NFL's best secondaries, want Cassel throwing constantly on Saturday. It's only going to increase the likelihood that one is taken back the other way. 

But if the Jets want Cassel to throw, they're going to have to shut down McFadden. Since taking over for the released Joseph Randle, McFadden has been playing some of his best football in years. He's averaging 4.2 yards per carry, has gained 798 yards and scored three times. He's also caught 32 passes for 263 yards.

Now, if there's anything the Jets defense does well, it's shutting down the run.

Player Name	Team	Carries	Yards	Touchdowns
Dexter McCluster	Titans	4	12	0
Orleans Darkwa	Giants	8	23	0
Lamar Miller	Dolphins	5	2	0

If the Jets are able to come out and shut down McFadden, then force Cassel to try to beat them? Well, there's a very real chance Dallas is held to single-digit points.

Key Matchups

Randy Gregory vs. Breno Giacomini

There has been just one team that has allowed fewer sacks than the Jets this season. With Fitzpatrick having been brought down just 18 times, the common assumption is that New York's offensive line has been playing lights-out. But truthfully, that's not the case.

There have been many times where Fitzpatrick should have been brought down but escaped the pocket and ran to pick up a couple yards. While he's not known as a scrambler, Fitzpatrick has been running more than ever before in his career. Through 13 games, he's rushed 51 times, the third most in his career. He needs to run just nine more times these final three games to set a new career high for rushing attempts.

Now while Fitzpatrick hasn't been brought down, he's been hurried an awful lot. And most of that pressure has come off the right side where right tackle Breno Giacomini has struggled.

Per Pro Football Focus, the former Seahawk has allowed two of those 18 sacks, along with six quarterback hits and 38 quarterback hurries. In his last two games, the tackle has allowed 10 hurries. Looking to increase Giacomini's statistics for the worse on Saturday will be Cowboys rookie Randy Gregory, who's beginning to catch on.

Fully recovered from a high ankle sprain that cost him five games earlier in the season, Gregory is coming off arguably his best game of the season last week. Against the Packers, PFF credited him with a tackle for a loss and a season-high three quarterback hurries. 

If Gregory can get going on Saturday, it could spell trouble for the Jets offense. 

Dez Bryant vs. Jets Secondary

The talk all week at Florham Park, New Jersey, has been about what Dez Bryan't can't do. Ever since working his way back from a broken foot suffered in the season opener, arguably the NFL's best receiver has looked nothing like the player that used to give defensive coordinators nightmares.

He doesn't have the same speed, said Jets safety Calvin Pryor, while cornerback Darrelle Revis wouldn't say anything other then "he'll be out there." Even Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers admitted he and the other members of the coaching staff played with the idea Bryant's still not 100 percent. 

"We tossed that around," he said. 

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

But here's the thing: While Bryant may not be the same player as he was last year, he's still dangerous, and the Jets can't sleep on him. 

How the Jets choose to defend Bryant will be worth watching on Saturday. Will the team put Revis over on him? That method worked in the past. Will the team keep its corners stationed on respective sides of the field, and whoever Bryant lines up against is who covers him? Maybe.

If the Jets go that route, they're be playing with fire. Could Buster Skrine or Antonio Cromartie cover Bryant in his current state? Sure, but why risk it? 

Bryant is the player that if the Jets let him, could prove to be the X-factor in a Dallas upset victory.

With a Jets Win

It’s big. At a minimum, a victory for the Jets would mean the team stays even with the Chiefs and Steelers for one of the AFC’s two wild-card spots. In a best-case scenario, the Jets go a game up with two to play on either the Chiefs or Steelers if one of those teams loses. 

Al Bello/Getty Images

With a Jets Loss

Believe it or not, a loss to the Cowboys wouldn’t be as damning to the Jets' playoff hopes as, say, one to the Patriots or Bills in the final two weeks. See, with Dallas playing in the NFC, aside from the actual win/loss column, this game won’t have any tie-breaking implications when it comes to the Chiefs and Steelers, as far as in-conference record is concerned. If the Jets are going to lose one of these final three games, this would be the game to drop. 

Prediction

If the Dallas Cowboys can establish a running game, they may have a chance on Saturday. Essentially, Matt Cassel cannot be put into a situation where he has to win the game. Because if he is, he’s not going to. 

He’ll toss an interception or two, fumble or make some boneheaded mistake to cost the Cowboys the game. If McFadden gets going, though, and the Cowboys can limit the Jets’ offensive possessions and keep Cassel to just 20-25 passes, there’s a chance they pull the upset. 

But that’s a really big if. 

This game has all the makings of one that’s going to be a two- to three-score victory for the Jets. New York’s offense, armed with Decker, Marshall and Ivory, should march up and down the field. New York’s defense, armed with Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams, should manhandle the Cowboys’ offensive attack.

Much like a week ago, look for the Jets to dominate this one from the opening whistle until the final. 

In a way, losing those four games in the middle of the season may have been a blessing in disguise for New York. It showed the team that wins in the NFL don't come easy, and no team should be taken for granted. It was that stretch that prepared the Jets for these "trap games." 

New York won't look past Dallas. Look for an easy win for the Jets. 

Jets 31, Cowboys 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 ([e-mail])