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WEEK FOUR PREVIEW: NEW YORK JETS VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The big games keep on coming for the New York Jets as they take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the Meadowlands on Sunday Night Football in Week 4.

And this promises to be a heavyweight clash featuring two of the best units in the league. The Chiefs will be led by two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Patrick Mahomes. And the gold-standard quarterback is getting up to speed after a slow start. Mahomes threw for more than 300 yards in beating Jacksonville in Week 2 and then threw for 272 yards and three scores against Chicago in Week 3.

But neither of those teams can field a defense like the Jets and that’s what will make Sunday’s matchup so fascinating. It’s strength versus strength.

Mahomes loves to connect with Travis Kelce and his All-Pro tight end has scored in each of the two games he has played this season. But the Jets allowed New England’s lead tight end, Hunter Henry, to gain just 17 receiving yards on five targets in Week 3.

And we know Mahomes likes to spread the ball around, hitting 11 different receiving targets in Week 2. Well, the Jets have linebackers who can run and disrupt, safeties who can cover and arguably the best cornerback trio in the league in Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed and Michael Carter.

Mahomes is still likely to have his moments so New York will need to find more offensive output than the 10 points scored in each of their last two outings. Even without being prolific on offense in Week 3, the Jets still came about an inch away from beating the Patriots on a Hail Mary to end the game.

The spirited Jets will battle and scrap for those fine margins to fall in their favour on Sunday and if they do, they will make a bold statement… and ruin Taylor Swift’s visit to the Big Apple!

New York Jets Player to Watch

Sauce Gardner – Cornerback… This feels like a game where the Jets will really need to lean on their All-Pro cornerback as the Chiefs are likely to take to the air early and often. If Gardner and his secondary teammates can plaster receivers downfield, Mahomes may have to hold the ball a second longer; allowing that Gang Green rush to get home.

Kansas City Chiefs Player to Watch

Patrick Mahomes – Quarterback… The two-time Super Bowl MVP stands atop the NFL mountain and continually wows us with an array of angle-defying passes. What makes Mahomes so special is that elite arm strength but also his will to win. It’s what all the greats have and Mahomes remains as hungry as ever even with two Super Bowl victories to his name.

Stat Attack!

A total of 14 different Chiefs players have caught a pass already this season – that is the most in the NFL… Dating back to the start of last season, the Jets have the fourth-best scoring defense in the league.

Keys to the game

We’ve already touched on the greatness of Patrick Mahomes with his arm, but what about his legs? He can frustrate defenders with timely scrambles. But the Jets will be willing to put that to the test early on Sunday night as Mahomes injured his ankle in last week’s win over the Bears. The quarterback insists he is fine, but the Jets and their pass rush will be keen to find out.

On the other side of the ball, the Jets need to get the football to Garrett Wilson. He showed against Dallas that he can score from anywhere on the field and he could be just the player to spark the offense. And a big game from running back Breece Hall would be welcomed. The young star rushed for 127 yards in Week 1 but has a total of 27 yards on the ground in the past two games.