As the Jets come off of a tough loss on the road in Miami last weekend, they return home for their final game of the 2021 calendar year, with nothing but pride to play for, and a top rookie QB matchup as well. Former Clemson prodigy QB Trevor Lawrence and the struggling 2-12 Jaguars are coming to Metlife to take on our rookie QB Zach Wilson and the very banged-up 3-11 New York Jets.
Unfortunately, HC Robert Saleh will not be available for this game either as he battles COVID right now along with 20 other players on the Jets roster. TE Coach Ron Middleton will serve as an Interim HC for this weekend's game in his replacement. It is safe to say that COVID has forced teams to go to other options for positions on the field and rosters have been changed a lot in recent times due to the fact. We hope Saleh and the team can recover well from their COVID spell in order to have them ready for the final 2 weeks of the season following today's game.
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| Ron Middleton (Pictured with Bucket Hat) will serve as the Jets Interim HC in today's game |
As for the COVID list, some notable names of the 20 players out are Elijah Moore, Alijah Vera Tucker, John Franklin Myers, and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. There are other starters out as well, but the Jets will be thin on both sides of the ball for tomorrow's game. That in itself is a challenge.
For the Jaguars, There are only 2 non starters listed as questionable, but they will be without DE/LB Josh Allen (the better of the two Josh Allens), WR Laviska Shenault Jr, and OL Ben Bartch all due to COVID protocol as well. As for the preview, this team has struggled a lot this year, and even though they have potential star QB Trevor Lawrence, similar to the Jets, they remain in a rebuild phase, and have already fired their ex HC Urban Meyer earlier this season. They have played better with new Interim HC Derrell Bevell, but still struggle to find victories despite the fact.
Along with QB Trevor Lawrence, RB James Robinson is a big piece to their offense, and has provided much of their offensive success throughout this tough season. The Jets must contain the run tomorrow as much as possible with a guy as effective as Robinson, as he could be a make or break player for the Jaguars offensive success. Along with Robinson, WR Marvin Jones Jr is a major deep threat and could serve as an issue against the Jets secondary in today's game as well. Former Vikings WR Laquon Treadwell has served as a good second option offensively for Jacksonville as well.
Defensively, the Jaguars are super thin, and near bottom of the league ranking wise. Although they arent a strong team defense, LB Myles Jack individually is a threat on the field at all given times on this defense. Along with Jack, former Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin, who is also the twin brother of one handed football CB Shaquem Griffin, is also one of the better players on their defense.
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| Jets WR Keelan Cole will have a great opportunity to shine for the Jets against his former team |
Similar to what happened when WR Corey Davis played very well against the Titans in the 27-24 OT win earlier this season, I will make the prediction from now that Cole will have his best game as a New York Jet, since he is now listed as WR1 with the absence of Crowder potentially. I expect the Jets offense to have some success in this matchup, as it will be a good opportunity for them to do so especially against a weaker defense in the NFL.
Defensively, contain the penalties to an extent and it would make all the difference in stopping different teams. I get it. It's easier said than done, but with an undisciplined team in the Jaguars, it will be an opportunity for the Jets to be less undisciplined if you get what I'm saying here. The Jets' secondary will be a completely new look at the two safety positions.
At SS, Will Parks picks up his first start as a Jet while at FS, Kai Nacua picks up his first start as a Jet also. As mentioned, Elijah Riley's absence along with FS Ashtyn Davis being on the COVID list as well means that these two will step in to have their opportunity tomorrow to show their worth. Ultimately, I don't expect it to be pretty. Either way, with two of the most penalized teams in the league, I expect yellow flags flying everywhere tomorrow. Hopefully, it is still good clean football and the game is competitive.
For my prediction, I definitely expect this to be a close game tomorrow, being that these teams do have similar records at 2-12 and 3-11. I do believe this also will be a great opportunity for Zach Wilson to showcase himself a bit to the league as well. I think it will be a high scoring game, being that both defenses are weak in this matchup. However, the Metlife crowd will surge the Jets to victory and I do believe they will find a way to win this game late for their fourth win of the 2021-22 season. The Jets will win this one by a score of 28-24.
-Miles Chamberlain
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| The top two picks of the 2021 draft square off in a Post-Christmas Matchup (Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson) |
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