The New York Jets saw their three-game winning streak snapped with a Monday Night Football loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and if they are to emerge victorious in Week 10, it will come on another national stage.

The Jets are taking on the Raiders on Sunday Night Football and will be looking for their first primetime win since opening night back in September. The Silver and Black were in turmoil 10 days ago, firing head coach Josh McDaniels, general manager Dave Ziegler and benching veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Interim head coach Antonio Pierce gave the Raiders an initial boost and they got a clean game from rookie passer Aidan O’Connell (209 passing yards, no interceptions and no sacks) in a 30-6 win over the New York Giants, but the Jets defense will present an entirely different challenge.

The Jets were on the wrong end of a 27-6 scoreline in Week 9 but the positive was, once again, the form of a defense that held another Pro Bowl quarterback in check. The normally-prolific Justin Herbert was held to just 136 passing yards and no touchdowns for a rating of 65.4. And he was sacked five times, including one and a half from Bryce Huff, who now has at least one sack in four straight games. This feels like a contest where the Jets could overwhelm an inexperienced quarterback like O’Connell.

Zach Wilson spread the ball around nicely against the Chargers, hitting 11 different receivers. But the Jets could not find the end zone and that has to change against the Silver and Black, who have a defense that currently ranks 19th in the NFL in points allowed (21.4 per game).

Breece Hall, who leads the Jets with 493 rushing yards at an impressive rate of 5.2 yards per carry, remains New York’s leading offensive threat and once he gets going, that will open opportunities for Garrett Wilson, who caught seven passes for 80 yards last week.

With a young quarterback in their cross-hairs, the Jets have the opportunity to leave the feel-good factor around the Raiders firmly in Week 9. In doing so, they will put themselves back in the AFC playoff race.

New York Jets Player to Watch

Sauce Gardner – Cornerback

It promises to be a best on best battle in Week 10 as All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner looks to lock down Davante Adams, wide receiver for the Raiders. Gardner is still looking for his first interception of the 2023 campaign and now would be the perfect time to deliver. A lack of interceptions is misleading, however, as few quarterbacks want to challenge Sauce on a weekly basis. More important on Sunday night will be limiting the effectiveness of Adams.

Las Vegas Raiders Player to Watch

Davante Adams – Wide Receiver

For the past six years, Davante Adams has been considered the gold standard of NFL wide receivers. The former Green Bay Packer – who is now in his second season with the Raiders – has been voted to six Pro Bowls since 2017 and has been named All-Pro in each of the last three seasons. But his 176 receiving yards over his last five games are the fewest in a five-game span in any season for Adams since his second NFL campaign in 2015.

Stat Attack!

Get Breece Hall in the end zone! The Jets are a perfect 8-0 in games where Hall scores a touchdown. In games where he does not hit paydirt, New York have a record of just 1-6.

Keys to the game

Both running games are going to be vital in this contest and let’s start with the Jets. Pressure gets alleviated across the board if New York can establish the run, win on first and second down and get into favourable third down conversion scenarios. It would also make life easier for Wilson, who has been sacked at least four times in each of his past four games.

The Raiders need to apply the same formula to help O’Connell and to draw Jets defenders closer to the line of scrimmage for shots downfield to Davante Adams. Reigning NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs is averaging just 56 rushing yards per game this season, down from 97 per outing a year ago. But he is coming off his best game of the year in which he rushed 26 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns. The Jets have to keep him in check.