With the New York Jets sporting a record of 1-2, Ryan Fitzpatrick and company are facing a must win against the Seattle Seahawks.
- New York Jets (1-2)
- Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
- NFL, Week 4, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Of course, Seattle Seahawks fearless leader Russell Wilson is playing in Week 4 against the New York Jets.
Did you actually think your Jets would receive such a break to face a Wilson-less Seahawks team? Of course not. Things like that just don’t happen for Gang Green.
The Super Bowl winning signal caller has been dealing with an MCL sprain in his left knee suffered against the San Francisco 49ers a week ago. But alas, Wilson will be in uniform at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
This means the murder’s row schedule New York was faced with prior to the season will stay as such. And boy, if the Jets can’t find a way to win this one at home, things will look outright terrible.
With visits to Pittsburgh and Arizona next up, the 1-2 Jets are facing a “must-win” situation. Even after playing the Steelers and Cardinals on the road, the 3-0 Baltimore Ravens are the opponent in Week 7.
Without even fully deserving this poor fate, New York, with a very talented roster, could wind up 1-5 or even 1-6 the next time we blink an eye. Veteran Darrelle Revis understands this better than anybody, via Darryl Slater of NJ.com:
“It’s a must-win for us,” he said, while discussing the Seattle game.
“To just regain some momentum back from the beginning of the season,” Revis continued, in why it’s such an important game. “We’re 1-2 right now. The first game didn’t go too well.”
“Then we lost in K.C.,” Revis continued. “So just to regain the momentum back for the team, and for us moving forward. I think this Sunday, with a win, that would be a kick-starter for us, and start us up for the rest of the season.”
The only thing worse than starting 1-3 would be to start 1-3 while staring at three rough games immediately thereafter.
This Sunday, Week 4 of the NFL, the New York Jets must win. Join us as we navigate through some of the most important issues relating to the game:
Injury Report
- Eric Decker, WR (shoulder, did not participate in Fri. practice)
- Bryce Petty, QB (shoulder, did not participate in Fri. practice)
- Jalin Marshall, WR (shoulder, did not participate in Fri. practice)
Questionable:
- Ryan Clady, LT (shoulder, limited participation in Fri. practice)
- Bruce Carter, LB (ankle, limited participation in Fri. practice)
When it revealed that rookie return man and No. 4 option on offense Jalin Marshall would miss a few weeks with a torn shoulder labrum, there was very little sweat thanks to the depth of the receiving group. Now that Eric Decker has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game, sweat is dripping.
Rookie Robbie Anderson will be elevated to the No. 3 spot while Charone Peake, most likely, the No. 4. Suddenly, that deep group of weapons Fitzpatrick had to throw to isn’t looking so hot.
Out:
- Thomas Rawls, RB (fibula, did not participate in Fri. practice)
Questionable:
- Jimmy Graham, TE (knee/back, full participation in Fri. practice)
- Nick Vannett, TE (ankle, full participation in Fri. practice)
- Mike Morgan, LB (hip, limited participation in Fri. practice)
- Jarran Reed, DT (hip, did not participate in Fri. practice)
- C.J. Prosise, RB (wrist, full participation in Fri. practice)
Other than starting running back Thomas Rawls and, of course, the sprained knee Russell Wilson is dealing with, the Seattle Seahawks are coming in relatively healthy.
Top Storylines
Ryan Fitzpatrick Against A Top Secondary:
From a Jets point of view, there is only one storyline that supersedes the rest.
Can and will Ryan Fitzpatrick bounce back from his worst performance as a Jet?
The six interceptions he threw in Kansas City last week was rough. Making it rougher is the idea he failed his first test against a legit covering defense.
So, does he receive a break the following week? Absolutely not.
In comes the Legion of Boom, the other phenomenal secondary in the NFL. How Fitz recovers against another top three secondary will mean everything to this organization on Sunday. Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor will be ready and buzzing around the ball. Even Bobby Wagner, one of the top covering linebackers in the league, will be tough to handle.
Russell Wilson’ Health:
As previously mentioned, Russ’s health will have an incredible impact on the game. Marshawn Lynch is gone and Thomas Rawls is banged up longterm. As Russ goes, the Seahawks offense goes.
Keys For The Jets
Stop Jimmy Graham:
It doesn’t matter that this Jimmy Graham isn’t same version we saw with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. He’s still one of the most talented tight ends in the league.
Look at Week 3 for a troublesome trend continuing. Travis Kelce went for a score close to 100 yards and a score against a poor Jets covering defense.
Todd Bowles must remove himself from his ancient ways of few personnel moves on defense and begin to increase his dime and quarter looks on defense. Get Antonio Allen on the field to cover Graham when the time calls for it. Calvin Pryor and David Harris simply cannot get that job done.
Attack Deep:
There is no better centerfielder in the NFL than Earl Thomas. He is the reason the Seahawks have been able to paly such a bland style of Cover 3 that simply dominates the football field.
In knowing this, Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall must hit a big play in one-on-one coverage early. It’s needed to loosen up that Cover 3 with eight in the box.
Prediction
Neither team will run away with this game. It’s too much to ask from a Seattle point of view in realizing Russell Wilson is so banged up. It’s too much to ask from a New York point of view in realizing how talented these Seahawks are.
It’ll be a low 20s kind of game with both defenses making plays all afternoon.
We see Fitzpatrick rebounding on a semi-level. He’ll be more careful with the ball while not taking the appropriate chances he usually would.
In the end, though, Russ will make enough magic to get the Seahawks on top in the final minutes.