Jets Vs Raiders Preview

As the Jets have been mathematically eliminated from postseason play (By the first week of December and that's embarrassing), they play host to the potentially playoff bound Las Vegas Raiders. For the Jets, this is a spoiler game yet again and a chance to throw another potential playoff team off track. At 6-5, the Raiders are looking at this game and their entire last regular season month of December as playoff games, being that they're in must-win situations going forward. 

QB Sam Darnold had one of his worst starts as a Jet last week throwing for under 200 yards along with 2 picks after coming back from a shoulder sprain. HC Adam Gase admitted this week following last week's loss that he has hindered Sam Darnold's career as a Jet and hasn't helped him. Being that the Jets are 0-11 this year and seems likely a win might not even happen, these games mean little to nothing and it's been nothing but a spoiled season this year. The Jets are sadly in dire straits

If the Jets can break this winless season today and play spoilers, they must be more efficient on offense and defensively must contain the run game, where the Raiders thrive. There were flashes of good offensive play throughout, but they never really buckled down and got to business. That must change this week, especially against a Raiders defense that isn't particularly strong and is nothing like the tenacious Dolphins defense. 

Raiders QB Derek Carr is trying to prove
his worth of being a playoff QB this season

For a preview of the Raiders, this team has some offensive firepower under QB Derek Carr. Their top RB Josh Jacobs is out today, which is a major plus for the Jets, so RB Devontae Booker will start for them today. They have 4 go to targets on this offense with wideouts Hunter Renfrow, Henry Ruggs III (Speedster), Nelson Agholor, and TE Darren Waller. Even the old reliable TE Jason Witten plays a role in their offense too. This team is run heavy, but without their all pro RB in Jacobs, they may look to throw the ball more today with a weaker and young Jets secondary. Carr has throwing ability and can definitely make an impact with his arm in any game he plays in, so the Jets must be all forces ahead on defense today. A good pass rush performance might help their chances for sure. 

Defensively, their isn't much to talk about with the Raiders. They only have given up under 20 points just twice this season against the Browns and Broncos. DE Maxx Crosby is one of their few shining lights on their defense, along with veteran S Jeff Heath. This gives the Jets offense a chance for a big day at the office, with the Raiders losing two straight games and not being a good defense and them missing their best offensive player in Josh Jacobs. If QB Sam Darnold and the offense doesn't take advantage of the luxury today, there may not be many more given opportunities to win this season. 

As the final full month of regular season football starts this week, it's just another game for the Jets, and it seems to be the trend that meaningless games are sometimes when the Jets play best. Believe it or not, this might be the one time we get to celebrate this year Jets fans. I'll take the Jets to win this one today winning it by a score of 24-21.

-Miles Chamberlain 

Jets QB Sam Darnold has had flashes of brilliance behind center,
but overall hasn't been the answer for the desperate NY Jets fans