Jets Vs Bucs Preview (Miles Bowl)

After a huge victory Sunday over the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday, the Jets remain at home for the new year of 2022 as they play host to not only the Super Bowl defending champions, but also my other favorite team in the league, the Buccaneers, lead by QB Tom Brady (yes we all (myself included) usually dislike him). This game in my eyes is also known as the Miles Bowl, since it is my two favorites matching up (my heart will be with the Jets today). It will most likely be Jets QB Zach Wilson's only chance in his young career to face the Hall of Fame level QB Tom Brady. They are 22 years apart, but yet playing against each other on the same field today.

For the injury report, both teams are currently down a few key players coming into this one. For the Jets, WR Jamison Crowder is listed as doubtful with a calf injury and will most likely not play today. RB Tevin Coleman is out this week and WR Elijah Moore once again will not play this week. TE Tyler Kroft also is listed as out today too. The Jets will return multiple names from the COVID 19 list this week, including starting CB Bryce Hall and DE John Franklin-Myers, along with OG's Alijah Vera-Tucker and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. HC Robert Saleh also will be back on the sidelines this weekend as well for this matchup. 

Zach Wilson and Tom Brady have exactly
a 22 year age difference (Both born on August 3rd)

For the Bucs, WR Chris Godwin tore his ACL two weeks ago, so he will be out for the remainder of the season for the Bucs. WR's Mike Evans (my man), and Antonio Brown are both listed as questionable coming into this week, but it seems likely that both will play at least limited snaps today. Defensively, both LB's Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett are out today. LB Lavonte David is also on IR and will not play today either. P Bradley Pinnion is out for the Bucs today too. 

For today's preview, coming into this game, the Bucs have scored at least 30 points in 9 of their 15 games this season. They have probably the best overall offense in the league when at full capacity and Brady playing at his best. For Tom Brady, there isn't much explaining to do, as he is already well known by most reading this blog, so we will go ahead to talk about other positions. At RB, Ronald Jones II will start in place of Leonard Fournette today, along with splitting carries with second year RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn and former Jets star Le'veon Bell. I would expect that they Bell will score at least once today, as it is his first time playing the Jets at Metlife since being dealt away earlier last season. 

At WR, assuming they play, Mike Evans and Antonio Brown will be tough targets to deal with for any coverage you put against them, as they are both elusive and dominant receivers when they are playing well. Scotty Miller could play a role today as a slot reciever as well, but TE Rob Gronkowski is well known by most Jets fans from his days with Brady in New England. He has had a good track record against the Jets in the past, and I would expect that to continue today as well. 

Mike Evans is Miles' favorite football player,
and assuming he plays today,
could present a big factor for the Bucs

Defensively, the Bucs have one of the top pass rushes in the league, but are a little bit slower in the secondary despite the success they've had. Without Pierre Paul and Barrett available, it will definitely play a difference, but rookie DE Joe Tyron-Shoyinka has stepped up big for the Bucs, and will look to continue to do the same today. Up front, DT/DE Ndamukong Suh and DT Vita Vea are well known names up front, and the Jets up front could be in for a long day with these guys creating pressure on Zach Wilson. LB Devin White is also another X factor to this defense, and he is all over the field no matter the play. The Jets must keep their eye on him today as well. In the secondary, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting and S Antoine Winfield Jr are the leaders and round out this championship level team in the Bucs. 

For the Jets, one thing is for sure is that they are definitely outmatched today on paper. To keep in this game, QB Zach Wilson must continue to play the way he has played and simply not try to do too much. The first assumption when playing a high octane offensive team like the Bucs would be to try to go score for score with them in order to win. Yes, I agree that Wilson and the Jets offense will need to put up points, as they have struggled to do so, but in order to have any chance of winning today, points are a must. 

For the Jets today, they need to continue to keep RB Michael Carter in the spotlight and let him have a fair share of carries today. He has continued to excel, and rushed for 118 yards in last week's big win against the Jaguars. Along with Carter, WR Braxton Berrios has shown what it truly means to wear Green and White. The former 6th round pick has had two TD's in his past two games and has started to be featured more in this Jets offense. With playing a few numbers down today, Berrios once again will have a chance to shine again in Green and White and give the home faithful something to cheer about. 

For today's prediction, for the Jets, this ultimately was a trap game on the schedule originally coming into the season, and I don't have much reason to believe the Jets have the horses to keep up with the defending Super Bowl Champs. Although it always hurts to lose at the hands of Tom Brady, I do believe that will happen today in this one. For the 2022 Miles Bowl, I'll take the Bucs winning this one by a score of 31-17. Jack and I hope everyone has had a happy and healthy new year so far.

-Miles Chamberlain  

Jets WR Braxton Berrios has continued to shine
in the last two weeks for the Green and White