When a season falls short of expectations, it’s sometimes easy to miss the positives.

It’s not that Sauce Gardner is going unnoticed, but I’m not sure his play is receiving the attention or recognition that it deserves. His pass break-up when matched up with Terry McLaurin last week received national attention.

It was picture perfect, showcasing the skills that make him one of the best cornerbacks in football. Patience, acceleration, length, instincts and leverage. If you’re teaching cornerback play, that’s a rep that will be on your training video.

It was a timely reminder that Sauce is special, something the Jets knew when they took him 4th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Any fear of Gardner experiencing a sophomore slump following his NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award last year have been well and truly put to bed.

Robert Saleh was asked to summarise Sauce’s season this week and he compared him to another corner who used his instincts and length to make good things happen:

“Sauce, I think he’s doing a really nice job. He’ll be the first to say that, when they throw the ball his way, when they do, he’s got to go take it. The challenge for him is going to be to stay locked in and he is. I’ll make sure I say this, because the way he approaches practice, games and all that stuff, meetings, he’s very deliberate. He’s very locked in. He’s very focused and I kind of compare it to ‘Sherm’ (Richard Sherman), when we went to coach Richard Sherman, you can get bored out there, when teams are just deliberately trying to avoid you. So, he’s locked down that left side of the field and he’s earned that right.”

The New York Jets squeezed past the Washington Commanders in Week 16, winning 30-28 on Greg Zeurlein’s 54-yard field goal with five seconds remaining. That took New York to six victories in what has been a difficult season at times, starting four different quarterbacks along the way.

That win total is a credit to head coach Robert Saleh and the spirit of his team. The Jets have a really good locker room and the team has stuck together through some trying moments in 2023. And now they have a chance to get to seven or eight victories on the year as they end at the Cleveland Browns and then at the New England Patriots.

Tonight’s game against the Browns will see the Jets take on a very familiar face in Cleveland’s emergency quarterback Joe Flacco, who has been red-hot in recent weeks; placing the Browns on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. The 38-year-old Flacco, who spent much of this season on the sofa, played for the Jets in 2020 and again, in parts of 2021 and 2022.

Flacco is not among the new age of mobile quarterbacks, so the Jets defenders know where he is going to be as they unleash their dominant pass rush. But the veteran passer has seen it all before and his form is excellent. The Super Bowl 47 MVP has thrown for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns in three straight games for the Browns.

The chink in Flacco’s armour is his confidence. He seems willing to take chances and perhaps that gives the Jets D an opportunity to strike? Flacco has thrown five interceptions in his last two games.

The Jets will be facing the best pass defense in the NFL, which makes this a massive Breece Hall game. He was outstanding against Washington last week and more of the same will be needed in Week 17.

New York Jets Player to Watch

Breece Hall – Running Back

With two weeks of the regular season remaining, no pitch count is required for Breece Hall. Give him the football and give it to him often. The Jets understand that is their best option for moving the football. Hall carried 20 times for 95 yards and two scores against the Commanders. He added 12 catches for 96 yards, giving him 32 touches for 191 yards and two touchdowns. He was the driving force of a New York attack that gained 381 yards on the day.

Cleveland Browns Player to Watch

Amari Cooper – Wide Receiver

He may not be the fastest receiver in the league nor is he the biggest and most powerful, but Amari Cooper always seems to get open and he is one of the NFL’s most productive players. Last week against Houston, Cooper caught 11 passes for a club record 265 yards and two touchdowns. The four-time Pro Bowler has been revitalized with Flacco at the helm.

Stat Attack!

Last week saw Breece Hall record his second career game with at least 95 rushing yards and 95 receiving yards in the same game. The only player with more such contests since 1950 is Chicago Bears Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton.

Keys to the game

Make Cleveland one-dimensional… The Browns have not completely ignored the run in recent weeks, but with Joe Flacco averaging 327 passing yards per game, you can see why Cleveland has taken to the air a lot more. Flacco has brought the best out of Cooper and tight end David Njoku. The Jets have to find a way to make the Browns turn to their rushing attack. Would you rather defend a red-hot Amari Cooper or running back Jerome Ford? Sauce Gardner has a key role to play in shutting down Cleveland’s passing attack. He has not allowed a completion where he was the nearest defender in coverage since Week 14!

Control the clock… This goes back to feeding Breece Hall the rock. If he can chew up yardage and time against the Browns defense, it bodes well for the Jets in all aspects of this game. New York’s defense has been on the field an average of 65 plays per game – that’s seventh-most in the league. If the Jets are more established on offense, the defense can play fresher and be more aggressive in getting after Flacco.

2023 didn’t exactly go to plan, but Aaron Rodgers is doing his best to rally the troops ahead of 2024. For many Jets fans, the promise of future success is all too familiar, but you can take comfort in the fact you’ll be welcoming back a Hall of Fame Quarterback next season, and one who believes we’re a lot closer to where we want to be than the record may suggest.

“I believe in the leadership that we have here,” Rodgers said on his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee show. “I believe in our guys. I think it’s not a situation where we have to rebuild. We need to reload a little bit, and there’ll be some tough decisions for sure, but I like the pieces that we have in place.”

Earlier this week we looked at some of those tough decisions, but Rodgers isn’t wrong to be optimistic about the direction of this franchise. It’s just hard to accept another season without playoff football; but for as frustrated as we are, every single person inside 1JD is just as, if not more, frustrated.

The Jets will need to make a lot of very tough roster decisions with 21 players set to hit free agency. Within that group of players are regular starters like Mekhi Becton, Connor McGovern, Jordan Whitehead, Quinton Jefferson, Greg Zurlein, Thomas Morstead and Justin Hardee, not to mention star pass-rusher Bryce Huff.

You won’t be able to keep everyone and strengthen the side, so while the core of the team will remain unchanged in 2024, there will be significant change. Rodgers spoke about his ability as a recruiter, and like college coaches who travel up and down the country ahead of National Signing Day, Rodgers will have to break out his best pitch ahead of NFL free agency.

That said, the Jets do have some key factors in their favour as we head into an offseason that will shape the future of this franchise. So what do the Jets have going in their favour? Like a questionable 90’s dating show, let’s list the attributes.

To start with the very obvious one: the Jets have Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall of Fame QB who has openly said that he doesn’t see 2024 being his final year. If you’re a player, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, you can sign on knowing that one of the best to ever play the game is going to be leading the team in 2024 and beyond. If you want a selling point, that’s a pretty big one.

The Jets currently have one of the best defences in football, and the vast majority of the core is signed through the 2024 season. Players like Quinnen, CJ Mosley, Quincy, Sauce, MC2, Reed, Johnson, JFM and more are here to stay. When you’re pitching to free agents on any side of the ball, being able to say you have a top-10 defensive unit is a huge positive, especially when that unit has unlimited potential.

Despite the defence being on the field a lot this year, they’re still ranked as the 5th best unit in terms of red-zone scoring, allowing touchdowns on 43.59% of opponent trips, the 11th best unit in terms of opponent scoring with 20.5 points allowed per game, and the 2nd best unit against the pass, allowing a measly 170.4 passing yards per game. The NFL is a passing league and the Jets defence is dominant against the pass.

Despite the offensive struggles this year, there is very real talent in the unit. If you look at Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, AVT and Tyler Conklin, you have four pillars that you can build around. When you’re averaging 14.4 points per game, you know there is work to do. But welcoming back Aaron Rodgers is a very good start, and we all know that the offensive line is going to be a priority over the course of the off-season.

Which brings me to another positive. Due to the season we’ve had, we’re almost guaranteed to have a top-10 draft selection, and considering we’ve mentioned the likes of Sauce and Garrett on this list, you know how vital those picks are. I’m sure we all would have taken a full season of Rodgers and the 1st-round pick heading to Green Bay, but if we couldn’t have that, I’ll certainly take a premium choice.

It’s hard right now to keep the positivity flowing, but with Christmas just around the corner…it’s a time for hope, and the hope is that 2024 will be significantly better for your New York Jets.

The Jets have officially been eliminated from the playoffs, meaning their postseason drought will continue into a 13th year. Nobody within the organisation will find that acceptable, but the manner in which they were eliminated will grate even harder.

The Dolphins came ready to play despite missing key players on the offensive side of the ball, and the Jets unfortunately did not have an answer. Although there are 3 games yet to be played, the period of reflection will start now. Plans for the 2024 season would have begun a long time ago, but for the fans, those plans will now come into sharper focus.

So what are the priorities as we hurtle towards the end of the season?

The first priority is to ensure that Aaron Rodgers is 100% healthy. The second is to focus on continuing to build the roster the right way; a big part of that is the Draft.

If the season were to end today the Jets would hold the 6th overall selection in the NFL Draft, and what they do with that pick, wherever it ends up, is going to be an interesting conversation over the coming months.

Do they draft a quarterback to sit behind Aaron Rodgers? It’s likely that both top QB prospects, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, will be long gone, but players like Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, and Michael Penix Jr should be available and in consideration.

Maybe they opt for another offensive weapon to pair with Garrett Wilson? Marvin Harrison Jr, a fellow Ohio State University star, has the talent and the pedigree and is guaranteed to be a top-5 selection, whilst TE Brock Bowers could have a Travis Kelce like impact in the right system. But don’t sleep on wide receivers Malik Nabers from LSU and Rome Odunze from Washington; both have gamebreaking talent.

My preferred option is to look at the offensive line. Robert Saleh highlighted the battle up front after yesterday’s game, and there are two elite tackle prospects who will be top-10 candidates this year. Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu and Notre Dame’s Joe Alt. I’m a fan of Alt as the ultimate technician at left tackle but both are outstanding prospects who could solidify the line.

The Jets also have some key decisions to make on pending free agents.

Mekhi Becton is set to hit free agency, and he’ll be joined by a number of other players. The list includes Duane Brown, Carl Lawson, Jordan Whitehead, Chuck Clark, Dalvin Cook, Bryce Huff, Quinton Jefferson, Randall Cobb, Greg Zuerlein, Solomon Thomas, Al Woods, Justin Hardee, Connor McGovern, Ashtyn Davis and Thomas Morstead. There are more, but that gives an indication of the work that Joe Douglas has to do heading into the 2024 season.

There will obviously be some roster turnover. Not only is it inevitable with the way the NFL works and the size of the rosters, but it’s also a healthy part of roster management. New players bring new energy, new experience, new voices. The juggling act of managing an NFL roster isn’t easy and I don’t envy Joe Douglas or the countless hours he’ll be putting in over the coming months.

Deciding who to let go and who to keep and target in free agency will largely determine how the following season goes. Ensuring you have that top-end talent as well as valuable depth is a balancing act that’s hard to achieve under the salary cap restrictions.

To ensure you have that depth, emphasis is placed on the lower rounds of the draft. Players picked in the 3rd round or later have a significantly lower salary. Think of players like Bryce Huff who went undrafted, Xavier Gipson too. Finding those hidden gems is where you can truly earn your dinner, and where teams can truly flourish in terms of their depth.

2023 has been a difficult season, and it’s disappointing that with three games to go we’re already looking at the 2024 season. Every team goes through a cycle, but we’ve been doing this for too long.

The Jets will now head into another offseason where tough decisions have to be made, but as fans we live in perpetual hope that next year may be the one.

The Jets defence was elite and QB Zach Wilson led a trio of second-half touchdown drives as the Green & White drilled the Houston Texans, 30-6, Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium. The Jets (5-8) snapped a five-game losing streak in the driving rain and the Texans dropped to 7-6.

Wilson, who served as the team’s emergency No. 3 QB the past two games, was triumphant in his return to the lineup and got the Jets offence rolling in the third quarter. Leading 75- and 69-yard scoring drives, the Jets opened up their largest lead of the season at 14-0 on Wilson’s 15-yard TD to Randall Cobb and Xavier Gipson’s 9-yard scamper on an end around.

Wilson (27-36, 301 yards, 2TD) became the first Jets passer in 16 games to reach 300 yards. It was his third career game when he eclipsed 300 passing yards and the first that came in a win.

“I thought Zach probably played the best game of his career,” HC Robert Saleh said. “Just the off-schedule stuff, the timing and rhythm and getting the ball to where it needed to get to, being aggressive but smart at the same time. I know he had the [fumble], but the aggressiveness to scramble, he was out there having a good time. He made a lot of things happen that weren’t there, so hats off to him. I thought he was outstanding today.”

C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 overall selection in last April’s NFL Draft, and the Texans were bottled up all afternoon. The Jets held the Texans to 135 yards of total offence and limited them to 1-for-12 on third down. Stroud (10-23-91) left in the fourth quarter and entered concussion protocol. Corners D.J. Reed (3 PD) and Sauce Gardner (2 PD) led a frisky unit that finished with 10 PD.

“If our offense is up, or if it’s a close game, the other team has to throw the ball,” Gardner said of the production. “We don’t have that many picks in the secondary, especially me and D.J., but when we’re winning, the other team has to pass the ball. That allows us to have more opportunities to make plays on the ball.”

Scoreless entering the third quarter, Wilson got 25 yards on a conversion to Garrett Wilson that came on a third-and-12 play from the Houston 40. Then he hit Cobb over the middle for a score and the Jets were off and running. That set the tone for a sizzling start to the second half that saw Wilson complete his first 16-of-17 passes for 200 yards. After losing a fumble on a scramble that set up Texans RB Devin Singeltary’s TD, Wilson quickly led the Jets back down the field and answered with a 3-yard score to Breece Hall.

G.Wilson (9-108) and Hall (8-86-1TD) combined for 17 receptions, 194 yards and 1 TD on 23 targets. The Jets more than doubled their season scoring average and handed DeMeco Ryans’ club its biggest margin of defeat in the process.

Already without electrifying rookie WR Tank Dell and TE Dalton Shultz, Stroud lost wideout Nico Collins in the first half to a calf injury. Stroud, who was averaging a league-high 295 pass yards per game, couldn’t get anything going in the rain against an elite pass defense.

The Jets totaled 3 sacks and Bryce Huff moved back into the team lead with 7 QB takedowns. Past the midway point of the fourth quarter, Stroud exited following a 6-yard completion to John Metchie.

The teams played to a scoreless first half as they combined for 11 punts in the first two quarters. Both clubs converted 1 of 7 on third down before intermission as Thomas Morstead helped the Jets win the field position game with three punts downed inside the 20. But the Jets exploded in the second half for their most dominant win of 2023.

Jetcetera

The Jets started a ninth different offensive line combination in as many games as Jake Hanson got the call at RG and Max Mitchell returned to RT. While Hanson became the 13th different starter on the line, it was the Jets’ 10th different line combo in 13 games.

… The 0-0 score at halftime was the NFL’s first scoreless opening half since a Washington-San Francisco Week 7 game in 2019.

… After a three-game homestand, the Jets will return to division play next week in South Florida against the AFCE-leading Dolphins.

… Greg Zuerlein continued his terrific season with makes from 51, 55 and 44 yards.

As the New York Jets look to break a five-game losing streak, they are turning back to quarterback Zach Wilson for Sunday’s home contest against the dangerous, playoff-chasing Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium.

Wilson was sidelined for the last two games as Tim Boyle took the snaps against the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons. The first-rounder will now look to provide a strong finish to what has been a challenging season.

As he prepares to provide a morale-boosting run, Wilson said: “Everybody knows I care about this team. Everyone knows I’m gonna do everything I can for the guys in this locker room, no matter the situation.”

Wilson and his Jets teammates should prepare themselves for drama on Sunday when the Texans roll into New York. Houston’s last eight games have all been decided by one score and have gone right down to the wire before being decided in dramatic fashion.

This game will be a battle of young quarterbacks taken second overall in the NFL Draft. Wilson was chosen by the Jets in 2021 and C.J. Stroud became a Houston Texan in 2023. And the latter is on pace for a season for the ages. Stroud could break through 5,000 passing yards this year and he is very likely to become the most prolific rookie passer in NFL history.

Stroud will be without key wide receiver Tank Dell, who broke his leg last week. But he and his remaining receiving corps will seriously test an always-tough New York defense. In their Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos, Nico Collins led the Texans with nine catches for 191 yards and a touchdown.

The Texans won’t be the first team that has been slowed by the Jets’ defense this season. But the presence of Stroud makes it likely they are going to get their share of points. And that means New York must step up on the offensive side of the ball where they have not reached 20 points in a game since October 15.

New York Jets Player to Watch

Xavier Gipson – Wide Receiver

The rookie who won New York’s opening night contest against the Buffalo Bills on an overtime punt return back in September has the skills to provide the spark the Jets are looking for. Gipson is an explosive weapon who could provide the chunk plays to kick-start New York’s offense. He caught five passes for 77 yards in last week’s loss to Atlanta with a long of 36. Getting him involved against a ball-hawking Houston secondary will be key.

Atlanta Falcons Player to Watch

C.J. Stroud – Quarterback

Houston’s rookie has become the talk of the NFL town and he leads the league with 3,540 passing yards. If he ends this season as the league’s number one in that department, he will be the first rookie to achieve that feat since Davey O’Brien, of the Philadelphia Eagles, in 1939! But it’s not just the numbers that have headlines being written about Stroud – he comes alive in big moments and has served up some game-winning drives for the cardiac Texans.

Stat Attack!

The Jets defense continues to be one of the best in the NFL, ranking in the top 10 in yards allowed per game (312.7) and takeaways (19).

Keys to the game

As is the case in every NFL game, taking care of the football will be paramount. Zach Wilson must be prepared to take his shots because those chunk plays are needed to spark the Jets. But he must also proceed with caution because the Texans are coming off a victory powered by three interceptions of Denver’s Russell Wilson. Derek Stingley Jr. is particularly dangerous as he has four picks in his last three games.

In defending the Texans, the Jets need to make a Houston team that has struggled to run the football consistently in 2023 a one-dimensional attack. That will allow New York to do what they have done for much of this challenging season – they can get after an excellent quarterback on the other side and make life difficult for Stroud, as they did for the likes of Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert earlier this season.

Last week, the Jets made the decision to release Adrian Amos, allowing the safety to look for a starting opportunity elsewhere. Despite Amos playing sparingly, it seemed like a strange decision to cut a player loose and deplete their depth, especially a veteran like Amos who brought plenty of experience to a relatively young secondary.

The Jets willingness to let Amos go was likely due to the continued improvement of Ashtyn Davis, who was responsible for a marquee play last Sunday. With Atlanta backed up, they handed the ball off to Bijan Robinson. Davis read it instantly and steamrolled the fullback into Robinson for a safety. It was an incredible play that showcased Davis’ ability to make things happen on the field.

The Jets have had to be patient with Davis after taking him in the 3rd round out of Cal back in 2020. Playing over 400 snaps as a rookie, Davis became the starter in 2021, but struggled to solidify his place, losing his spot to LaMarcus Joyner in 2022 and Tony Adams this year. But through it all, his personality and his professionalism have remained. Davis is often singled out by the coaches and he’s certainly a favourite of Brant Boyer for his special teams contributions, but we’re starting to see signs of development in his defensive performances.

A lot of people don’t know that for much of Davis’s high school career, he was more renowned for his track efforts than his football ones. When he decided to join the Cal track team he was lacking in football scholarship opportunities. His track coaches at Cal said they’d rescind his scholarship if he walked onto the football field, but Davis wanted to play football. Instead of playing as a wide receiver as he did in high school, he found a home at slot cornerback before being moved to free safety in 2017.

What we need to remember is that Davis only had two years of starting free safety experience when the Jets made him the 68th overall selection in the draft. Despite making First Team All-Pac-12 in 2018, he was still learning the nuances of the position. His athletic ability was unquestioned; he was fast and physical, but he was also undisciplined. The Jets must have known that coming in, and while his opportunities diminished, he’s never stopped developing.

Over the last few years, he’s had to deal with some injuries, missing most of the 2021 off-season thanks to a foot injury that required surgery. He’s also had to deal with some inconsistencies and plenty of fan criticism. For many, he appeared to be an easy cut last off-season, with plenty of experts circling his name as a way for the Jets to create cap space. But when preseason began, there he was.

Head Coach Robert Saleh has often spoken about the need to be patient with players and how players develop at different speeds. It would have been easy to give up Davis, but with Amos gone, there will be opportunities for him to develop through on-field playing time down the back stretch.

We’re starting to see some signs of life. There was the interception against Patrick Mahomes in week four and Josh Allen in week 11, there was the play from last Sunday and a number of special team contributions that go unnoticed on a weekly basis.

The unfortunate reality for the Jets is that the playoffs now appear to be slipping further and further away, but lost seasons don’t exist in the NFL. If we can’t make the playoffs this season, we need to use the rest of the season to evaluate the talent on the roster.

Having just turned 27, Ashtyn is about to hit NFL free agency for the first time and I’m sure his athletic profile alone will draw attention from several teams. We can use the rest of the season to evaluate what his role will be going forward, and that’s not just limited to him. There’s a certain QB who’s about to undergo an audition for the 2024 season too.

The Jets will be hoping for a couple of late developers.

The New York Jets will look to get back to winning ways on Christmas Eve as they welcome the Washington Commanders into MetLife Stadium. With both teams out of the playoff race for this season, the intent will be to produce a strong finish that can be carried into the preparations for 2024.

With that in mind, the Jets have activated future-Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But the superstar passer who tore his Achilles four snaps into the 2023 season, won’t be playing in any games the rest of the way. This move is about getting him on the practice field and preparing for what should be a considerably brighter 2024 campaign.

The mere presence of Rodgers on the practice field is providing a much-needed morale boost at Florham Park. And the Jets will need those positive thoughts coming off a 30-0 loss at the Miami Dolphins last weekend.

But this is a winnable game for the Jets, who specialise in making life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. Washington’s Sam Howell has been sacked 59 times in 2023 and has thrown 15 interceptions – both are NFL highs.

With Zach Wilson suffering a concussion in last week’s defeat, the Jets may have to turn back to Trevor Siemian at quarterback. Jets fans will be hoping he is inspired by the presence of Rodgers on the sidelines over the festive period.

New York Jets Player to Watch

Bryce Huff – Edge Rusher

The fourth-year defender recorded another sack against the Miami Dolphins last week, giving him a career-high eight on the season. In his first three seasons in the NFL combined, Huff had just seven and a half sacks, so he has really come alive in 2023. He has recorded at least half a sack in seven of his last 10 outings for the Jets.

Washington Commanders Player to Watch

Terry McLaurin – Wide Receiver

Despite some of their offensive issues – primarily in terms of protections and turnovers in the passing game – Terry McLaurin is closing in on what would be a fourth straight 1,000-yard season. McLaurin is capable of stretching the field and making the circus catches that become the talk of an NFL weekend. He will be a real danger to New York’s strong defense.

Stat Attack!

Washington quarterback Sam Howell has thrown for 3,568 yards in 2023 – seventh-most in the NFL. But he threw for a career-low 105 yards in Week 15 and was benched for Jacoby Brissett.

Keys to the game

Win up front… The Jets need to win the physical battle along the line of scrimmage in order for whoever plays quarterback to find Garrett Wilson in the passing game. That line must also pave the way for Breece Hall to be a factor against a normally-stout Commanders defense that is stumbling to the finish line. Neither the running or passing games were able to get going in Miami last weekend and that has to change in Week 16.

Make a fast start… Both teams are low on confidence and whoever gets out of the gate the fastest might be able to use that momentum as a catapult to victory. Slow starts have plagued the Jets for much of this difficult campaign but they are facing a Washington team low on confidence and this could become a psychological battle as much as a physical contest.

The New York Jets will be feeling much better about things as they head to South Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 15 action on Sunday evening.

The Jets snapped a five-game losing streak in emphatic fashion last weekend, recording a 30-6 victory over the playoff-chasing Houston Texans. As has often been the case this season, New York’s defense harassed an opposing quarterback into submission. This time it was NFL-leading rookie C.J. Stroud who was made to suffer. He threw for just 91 yards, while the Texans posted a net passing yards total of 54. New York racked up five sacks on the day.

After a slow start and a scoreless first half, the Jets offense clicked into gear with three touchdowns, as well as three Greg Zeurlein field goals after the break. Zach Wilson played his best game of the season, throwing for 301 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Jets will need both sides of the ball to replicate their Week 14 showing as they take on the AFC East-leading Dolphins, who will be licking their wounds after suffering their first home loss of the season against the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football.

The Dolphins became the first team in NFL history to lead by at least 14 points with less than three minutes on the clock and lose in regulation. Teams were 17,561-0 in that situation prior to Monday night.

So, Miami will be hurting mentally and possibly physically because the Dolphins have some injury concerns that could affect the outcome of this divisional showdown. Center Connor Williams is gone for the year with a torn ACL and superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill injured his ankle against the Titans.

Miami are required to handle a great deal of pressure as a team chasing the top seed in the AFC. They have very little room for error and every one of their games is going to be a high-stakes affair. Like the Titans before them, the Jets have nothing to lose and that could make them a dangerous outfit. The Dolphins didn’t handle that situation well on Monday night. If they slip again, could the Jets make them pay and pick up a second morale-boosting victory in a row?

New York Jets Player to Watch

Zach Wilson – Quarterback

After an outstanding second half against the Houston Texans, Jets fans and the rest of the NFL will be keen to see if that form can be continued against a Miami defense that has steadily improved throughout the 2023 campaign. Last week’s 300-yard passing day came after Wilson was benched for Week 12 and 13 losses, one of which was to the Dolphins. Now, we get to see how the Jets will look against Miami with their second overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft.

Miami Dolphins Player to Watch

Tyreek Hill – Wide Receiver

Monday’s loss to the Titans reminded us that Tyreek Hill is the single most important player on Miami’s roster. The electrifying receiver changes everything when he is in the lineup and when he was banged up and out of that Week 14 game, the Dolphins suffered on the offensive side of the ball. Hill had some injury issues when facing the Jets in Week 12 but still racked up 102 receiving yards and a touchdown in Miami’s 34-13 win.

Stat Attack!

Sauce Gardner may not have an interception yet in 2023, but he remains one of the best cover corners in the league. According to Pro Football Focus, the Jets defensive back has a coverage grade of 89.9 – third among NFL cornerbacks behind only Jaylon Johnson (Chicago Bears) and DaRon Bland (Dallas Cowboys). Gardner also leads the Jets with nine pass defenses this season.

Keys to the game

Feed the playmakers… the Jets did that in last weekend’s victory over Houston, particularly through the air. Garrett Wilson was targeted 14 times and he reeled in nine catches for a season-high 108 yards. On pace for a second straight 1,000-yard season to start his NFL career, Wilson is the real deal and needs the football. The same can be said for Breece Hall, who rushed 10 times for 40 yards and caught eight passes for 86 yards and a score. Getting the football to this pair will help the Jets greatly.

Test Miami’s offensive line… the Dolphins are very banged up along the offensive line so now might be a good time to unleash some creative pressure packages. What have you got, Robert Saleh? If the Jets can bring the heat from multiple areas, Tua Tagovailoa is going to feel it. That pressure will not only challenge Miami’s linemen physically, but also mentally because with Williams out at center; a new player is going to need to make the line calls and adjustments. This could be a key area for New York’s dominant defense to exploit.

New York Jets fans have been buoyed by the sight of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers returning to the practice field this week. While it by no means guarantees a return to competitive action this year, it marks a significant step forward less than three months after number 8 tore his Achilles on opening night.

And now the green half of New York will be hoping the whole team is boosted by Rodgers being back on the practice field. The Jets have lost four in a row in a difficult month, but they have a real chance to get back into the win column on Sunday against an Atlanta Falcons team that has blown hot and cold throughout this season.

The Falcons are currently in first place in the NFC South, but they don’t have a winning record and they don’t travel well. Atlanta have gone 1-4 on the road in 2023 and 2-11 over the past two campaigns. Quarterback Desmond Ridder has won just one game away from Atlanta during his short NFL career to date.

And, as we have seen throughout this season, Ridder is prone to making mistakes at inopportune times. That could bode well for a Jets defense that forced three turnovers in a tough Black Friday loss at home to the Miami Dolphins. There is no doubt that the defense continues to play hard for head coach Robert Saleh and remains the strength of this team.

The Falcons will likely look to ease the load on Ridder by handing the ball to rookie first-round running back Bijan Robinson, who is beginning to heat up again after a mid-season lull. Robinson ranks eighth in the NFL with 703 rushing yards and is averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He leads all rookies in 2023 with 943 scrimmage yards. He must be accounted for at all times.

The Jets will be hoping to replicate some of their late-game showing against the Dolphins in Week 12 when Tim Boyle connected with Garrett Wilson for a fourth quarter touchdown. Establishing and maintaining long drives has been difficult this season so some chunk plays in Week 13 would be very welcome indeed.

New York Jets Player to Watch

C.J. Mosley – Linebacker

Tackling machine linebacker C.J. Mosley was all over the field against the Miami Dolphins last week, recording 14 tackles and one pass defense. For the season, Mosley continues to lead from the front and has a team-high 114 stops in 11 games – that’s an average of 10.4 tackles per outing. Mosley will be key in slowing down what is a very good Atlanta rushing attack.

Atlanta Falcons Player to Watch

Bijan Robinson – Running Back

Atlanta’s first-rounder is an incredible athlete who can make defenders miss in both the running and passing games. Bijan Robinson is a highlight-reel player who simply demands your attention. He has been instrumental in Atlanta ranking fourth in the NFL with 139.3 rushing yards per game. And he is in good form with back-to-back games with at least 15 carries and 90 rushing yards.

Stat Attack!

Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder has never thrown a road touchdown pass on American soil. He has thrown one career touchdown pass in six career road starts (tied for second-fewest through six such starts since 1970). His only career TD pass on the road came in Week 4 of this season against the Jacksonville Jaguars – a game played in London.

Keys to the game

Win the turnover battle! That is going to be key for the Jets this weekend. Atlanta rank 26th in the NFL with a -6 differential (12 takeaways to 18 giveaways). The Jets are faring better with a -1 differential (19 takeaways to 20 giveaways). Those 20 giveaways are sixth-most in the NFL, however. If New York can protect the football, that can only help the Tim Boyle-led attack and ease the pressure on the defensive side of the ball.

Ridder will give the Jets chances to steal a turnover or two and to create a short field. Taking advantage and winning those ‘moments’ could be the deciding factors in the Jets winning for the first time since Week 8 against the New York Giants. It’s all there for the taking this week – the Jets just need to strike at the right time and maximize the opportunities that come their way.