The New York Jets and Denver Broncos meet in Denver, Colorado this week, and there is plenty on the table. the Jets are coming off of an ugly loss against the New England Patriots, while the Broncos are fresh off a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a game in which the Broncos defense sent the Jaguars to purgatory. Which team will prevail here in Week 3? Here is a preview of the New York Jets vs. the Denver Broncos.
The Good Guys
For the Jets, as expected, all eyes will be on Zach Wilson. Specifically, how does he bounce back from a game in which he threw four interceptions, more than he did all of his last season at BYU? The Broncos team is built off of this elite defense, and they employ one of, if not the best secondary in the entire NFL. If Wilson can ‘play boring,’ as Robert Saleh put it, they might be able to build off of the good running game the Jets were able to run last week.
Reminder: this offense is built off of the run game. If they can keep it going, it should open up Wilson to sling the rock around as he pleases. If they are able to throw the ball, keep an eye on Braxton Berrios. With Jamison Crowder likely out again, look for the short game to run through Berrios. With Patrick Surtain and Kyle Fuller on the outside, Corey Davis and Elijah Moore will really have their work cut out for them.
Another thing to watch will be if the defensive line will be able to generate any pressure on Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater currently averages the third most air yards per attempt, meaning he is looking to push the ball down the field. If he is able to sit back in the pocket all day, this young secondary will not have any fun. John Franklin-Myers currently has two sacks on the season, and he looks to continue his form this week.
The Opposition
With Bradley Chubb likely out for the next 6-8 weeks with an ankle injury, the Broncos will need to find a pass rush outside of Von Miller. Miller has been terrorizing opposing quarterbacks this season, and the Jets have allowed 10 sacks in two weeks. The Broncos have gotten decent production out of the likes of Jonathan Cooper, Malik Reed and Baron Browning, but none of these players are Bradley Chubb.
Bridgewater has thrown the ball down the field a lot this season, and he has the weapons to be successful. Even with Jerry Jeudy out, the Broncos still employ Noah Fant, Tim Patrick, KJ Hamler, and Courtland Sutton. One of the best pass-catching groups in the NFL, this offense can put up points. They likely will not have to do too much scoring, as the Jets have scored 20 points this season, but it will be interesting to see how many points they can score.
Finally, with a rookie quarterback on the opposite side of the field, eyes will be on this elite secondary. Fuller, Surtain, Bryce Callahan, Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson make up what is likely the best secondary in the NFL, and they look to make Wilson’s day as bad as possible. They locked up the Jaguars receivers, and look to do so this week as well.
Conclusion
The Broncos will likely win this game, and they are currently 10 point favorites. However, Wilson will need to show some improvement to keep the Jets fans happy, which would be a win in and of itself. As long as the Jets keep it competitive, it will be a win for fans everywhere, but don’t expect too much. This has been a preview of the New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos.