Let’s go forward and be optimistic, Jets followers, and assume that Gang Inexperienced will additional the slide of the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals by overcoming a six-point unfold and pulling off yet one more victory in opposition to an Ohio staff to enhance to 2-1 total.
Jet’s QB Joe Flacco, seen on the sector in an undated photograph.
And let’s assume that quarterback Joe Flacco, the 37-year-old dinosaur present process a rejuvenation that has him at +15000 on BetMGM’s MVP board, is the principle power behind this unlikely occasion. Will that be the top of the street for the quarterback who at present sits third in most passing yards by any NFL quarterback, even main MVP favourite Josh Allen of Buffalo?
These are the questions price pondering because the work week ends in New York, with the Jets set to go considered one of two methods: a 1-2 staff with loads of time to get better as injured quarterback Zach Wilson will get able to take over for the ultimate 14 video games.
Or a 2-1 staff that has had Flacco maintaining this Fountain of Youth factor and has the Jets one sport over .500 heading right into a Week 4 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That staff is reeling following their 29-17 loss Thursday night time to Cleveland, the place they managed solely three second-half factors.
Ah, a quarterback controversy. Wouldn’t that be one thing for a franchise that might not even win a single September sport for the previous three seasons?
What Will Robert Saleh Do If He Wins?
That is each a superb downside and a nasty downside to have for coach Robert Saleh. He is aware of the Jets’ long-term fortunes are tied to the success of Wilson, the general No. 2 choose of the 2021 draft out of BYU, who’s recovering from arthroscopic knee surgical procedure.
If Wilson returns in Week 4 and Flacco sits, we’re not going to be seeing dance strikes fairly like these:
JOE FLACCO BABY pic.twitter.com/p3jfrUWMIn
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 18, 2022
And that may do two issues: Put numerous stress on Wilson for Week 4, and depart Saleh open to some extreme second-guessing if the season then begins to take a subsequent flip for the more serious.
Being considerably in rivalry at this early stage of the season is one thing new for these Jets, who Saleh promised wouldn’t be the “Identical Outdated Jets,” after which backed that assertion up with that almost all unlikely of comebacks final Sunday in opposition to the Browns. The Jets scored two touchdowns over the ultimate 1:55 in Cleveland for what might have been probably the most beautiful victory final week in all the NFL.
And whereas Giants followers are ecstatic over their 2-0 begin heading right into a Monday Evening Soccer showdown in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys on the street, Jets followers are someplace north of Cloud 9. That’s as a result of relevance was beforehand a phrase they might solely lookup within the dictionary.
However the truth stays that the Jets are six-point ‘canines for a cause, not the least of which is that Cincinnati went to the Tremendous Bowl final season and stays +1600 to win the AFC. That’s whereas the Jets are +10000.
Say it louder, Ian!
Full podcast ➡️ pic.twitter.com/MWcw7YVxNN
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 22, 2022
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow enters this sport with extra interceptions (4) than TD passes (3), and the Bengals’ offense is ranked 18th with 343 yards per sport. The Jets are ranked eighth with 391; on protection, Gang Inexperienced is surrendering 339 1/2 yards per sport, whereas the Bengals are considerably stingier, permitting 302 per sport, seventh-best within the NFL.
However that’s all of the extra cause to maintain a detailed eye on this whereas the Flacco-Wilson factor performs out. As a result of if Flacco can lead the Jets to a victory in opposition to that powerful of protection (in opposition to a staff that went to the Tremendous Bowl, no much less), we could have a state of affairs on our arms. Keep in mind, it was not way back that Sam Darnold could be the long-term reply, and all of us bear in mind how that labored out.
The place is the Key Matchup, Workforce-Smart?
The matchup to observe is the Jets’ secondary vs. the Bengals’ receiving corps. The Jets have gone up in opposition to Baltimore and Cleveland groups which are each working again reliant. However Cincinnati is totally different. Final season, Ja’Marr Chase was sixth within the NFL in whole receiving yards, Tee Higgins was seventeenth, and Tyler Boyd was thirty ninth. The Jets had no person within the prime 80.
Chase has an over/below on receiving yards of 76.5. Higgins is at 65.5, Boyd is at 35.5; The Jets’ highest receiving whole over/below is Elijan Moore at 49.5, (he had three catches for 41 yards final week), and Garrett Wilson, who caught the game-winner final week, is at 50 1/2).
Burrow’s passing yardage over/below is 262.5 yards, a quantity he simply eclipsed within the season-opening extra time loss to Pittsburgh however fell quick (199 yards) final week in opposition to Dallas. Flacco is at 234.5, which he surpassed in every of his first two video games, going for 307 and 309.
After which we have now sacks. The Bengals have solely two this season after ending twelfth in that class final 12 months earlier than dropping Matthew Stafford twice through the Tremendous Bowl. You might recall that the Rams sacked Burrow seven instances within the championship sport, which is one thing Saleh’s protection will attempt to replicate. New York has solely 3 sacks this season, which doesn’t bode properly for the Jets pressuring Burrow into the varieties of fast throws that may be picked off.
On interceptions, the Jets have two, and the Bengals’ subsequent one can be their first.
Blown coverages downfield have damage the Jets in every of their first two video games, and the most effective wager anyplace in America is that the Bengals teaching workers has been specializing in these protection errors to allow repeats. The Jets’ stirring comeback final Sunday was a uncommon feel-good second for a franchise that has not had a lot of these since Joe Namath was a quarterback in 1969.
Saleh might want to have them at their sharpest degree of focus to maintain them from having to play from behind, as they did within the majority of their first two video games in opposition to the Ravens (they trailed for 37:40) and the Browns (they trailed for 23:22). The primary lead the Jets had all season got here after they scored with 22 seconds remaining final week in opposition to the Browns.
So this can be a true take a look at for Flacco and the Jets as a result of a staff coming off a Tremendous Bowl look with an 0-2 document is a determined staff, and Bengals coach Zac Taylor might discover himself on the recent seat, regardless of all the success he has had since opening 0-11 in his rookie teaching marketing campaign of 2019. What occurred final season can shortly be dismissed if issues go south shortly. Simply ask Ime Udoka.
What About The Traces and the Tendencies?
The road is 6 due to what these groups did a 12 months in the past. The over/below is 45 1/2 as a result of neither offense has been notably adept.
However it is just Week 3, and there may be time for these groups to revert to kind: The Bengals being a robust postseason contender; the Jets being a staff that leaves their followers shaking their heads as they exit the Met Life parking zone. However by any measurement, this can be a momentous sport for each groups.
New York is 1-1-0 in opposition to the unfold, and Cincinnati is 0-2. The Jets are 3-6-0 ATS as a house ‘canine, together with final season. The Bengals are 2-2 ATS as a street favourite. New York has gone over in 5 of 9 video games as a house underdog, whereas the Bengals have gone over simply as soon as of their previous 4 video games as an away favourite.
