Coming off of a week two depression, Zach Wilson and the Jets travel to Empower Field at Mile High to face Teddy Bridgewater and the red hot Denver Broncos. After last week's depressing loss to the Patriots, the Jets must respond this week and Zach Wilson's decision making will be tested yet again.
Before previewing both teams, the injury report does have multiple Jets starters who will be out today. For certain, RB Tevin Coleman has a non-covid illness that will hold him out of todays game. In addition, WR Jamison Crowder is listed as doubtful with a groin injury and HC Robert Saleh says he will be a "gametime decision," but it would be safe to assume that he will be out as well. DE John Franklin-Myers is also questionable with a calf injury as well.
For a preview, the Broncos come into this game having beat the Giants at Metlife Stadium in Week 1 followed by a win at Jacksonville in week 2. This is their home opener, so the energy will be present and the conditions will be difficult to play in for the Jets, and it is something that could play a big factor today. Even early on this year, the Broncos have been sharp defensively and the Jets need to fine tune the offensive turnovers from last week in order to have any chance of winning on the road. In particular, LB Von Miller has returned after being forced out of last season with tendon damage in his ankle. He has come back into his old form and proves to be a leader on this defense as well.
Offensively, the Broncos come in with flying colors. WR's Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick come in as threats to the Jets secondary today and must be paid attention to in this matchup. With RB Melvin Gordon in the mix as well, the Jets will have to be extra careful with him as well or he will run on the Jets like he did when the teams met at Metlife for Thursday Night Football last season. That night, he ran for 107 yards and a breakaway TD as well (definitely a night to forget) (Courtesy Profootballreference.com). However, despite these weapons, the true x-factor in my eyes with this offense today would have to be TE Noah Fant and here's why;
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| RB Ty Johnson might be a big piece in today's matchup, as he gets his first official start of the 2021 season |
Defensively, the Broncos have been strong and holding teams out of scoring opportunities. Even though the Jets have been turnover heavy early this season, the Broncos don't necessarily get lots of takeaways, but they do force teams to punt often. The Jets to prevent this have to play simple football, and Jets QB Zach Wilson needs to continue to utilize the run game in order to take some weight off his shoulders. RB Ty Johnson will start, along with sharing carries with Michael Carter, so the usage of both of them will be essential. Defensively, the Broncos are strongest in the secondary, with CB Justin Simmons and rookie CB Patrick Surtain II who both are solid coverage CB's. The Jets might have an interesting day trying to force plays downfield or throwing too much. Instead, keeping the game simple and managing in game is vital to the Jets success today.
For my pick this week, It still is hard for me to believe the Jets are ready to compete at 100% pace at this point in the year. Along with the climate in Denver as well as the loud and crazy energy their fans have and the fact that the Broncos have also started this season very well gives me reasons to believe this game might not end so well. I have to take the Broncos taking care of business against the hopeful Jets winning this one 30-10.
-Miles Chamberlain
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| Broncos QB Teddy Bridgewater has thrown for just shy of 600 yards in just two games this season (594 yards) (Courtesy of Espn.com) |
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