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Jets Flight Zone: Week Two

Date: September 15, 2022

By: Matthew Soetebeer and Justin Valenzuela

Joe Flacco scanning the field.

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

New York Jets fans need to face the facts. The team has been struggling for almost a decade, but it feels like it’s been a century. The hard times continued with an array of issues throughout their 24-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday. 

The second overall pick in the 2021 draft, Zach Wilson, injured his knee in a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was inactive for this game and likely won’t be back until Week Four.

Veteran Joe Flacco was named the starting quarterback for Week Two against the Cleveland Browns, but Wilson suited up on Wednesday for the first time in weeks.  

Flacco, Super Bowl XLVII MVP, is well past his prime at 37 years old. He threw the ball a staggering 59 times on Sunday, and it didn’t go well to say the least. Fans throughout the stadium were even chanting “Mike White,” the name of the third quarterback on the Jets roster. 

Despite Flacco’s struggles, cornerback Sauce Gardner and running back Michael Carter showed the Jets fans that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  

Gardner was touted as the best cornerback in the 2022 draft class, and his swagger has won over Jets fans already. Gardner recorded 34 coverage snaps and only gave up one catch the entire game. His potential is high, and fans are excited to see how he continues to progress. 

Michael Carter was a fourth-round selection in the 2021 draft and is only in his second year. He’s expected to split time with rookie running back Breece Hall, but the Jets have made it clear that they think highly of Carter. 

“He’s the ultimate professional, he’s the ultimate leader, he is the heartbeat of our offense, he really is,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. 

Carter had 10 carries for 60 yards against the Ravens, with his longest run going for 22 yards. He also added another 40 yards off catches out of the backfield, totaling him at an even 100 yards on the day.

To put up a strong fight against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday, the Jets need another strong showing from Carter. They are undermanned at quarterback and need to somehow make up for the lack of firepower on the ground.  

While the Jets are looking to bounce back after starting 0-1, the Browns are looking to continue taking steps forward. They narrowly defeated the Carolina Panthers by a score of 26-24, and they were especially glad to take down their former “face of the franchise” in Baker Mayfield. 

With Flacco running the offense this week, expect quiet games from wide receivers like second-year star Elijah Moore and the 2022 tenth overall pick Garrett Wilson.

Coach Saleh and tight end Tyler Conklin have preached to fans that this year will not be another disappointment for Jets fans, but it’s hard to imagine that being true with Wilson still on the sidelines.  

As much of the blame as Flacco deserves, the rest of the offense was a huge letdown; Breece Hall didn’t flash, Garrett Wilson hardly played, and they simply couldn’t move the ball. Only Michael Carter was stepping up to make the important offensive plays that they needed. 

It’s time for the Jets to get a few in the win column, regardless of the quarterback under center. Despite it being a quiet Week One, expect Breece Hall to introduce himself to the league this week as he and Carter will be the focal point of the offense. The less the ball is in Flacco’s hands, the better for this Jets offense.  

The Browns face a similar story as Jacoby Brissett gets his second start as he fills in for the suspended Deshaun Watson, who is set to return Week 13. The Browns head into this game as six-point favorites against the Jets.  

The key matchup of this game will be the Jets run defense against the Browns rushing attack, a defense that held a Lamar Jackson led offense to a total of 63 yards on the ground in Week One. This was the lowest amount the Ravens offense under Jackson has ever recorded.

However, they have another tough task in the Browns one two punch of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt; this duo led the league week one with 39 carries. If the Jets hope to play spoiler this week, their run defense must have another stout showing against the strength of this Browns team.  

The run defense was once considered the weakest area of the Jets team, but their exceptional run stop against the Ravens further proves that to be no longer true. 

If the Jets can limit the Browns run game, that will put the pressure on Jacoby Brissett to throw the ball. Brissett is a below-average starter, and the Jets cornerbacks combined to allow the fewest yards by a starting cornerback duo in Week One. They allowed just one catch for eight total yards. 

Look for Sauce Gardner to try to build on his strong showing, as this will undoubtedly be a tougher matchup for him. He will be going one-on-one with Amari Cooper, a four-time Pro Bowler.  

While it will be tough to pull out the victory with Flacco under center, it is definitely a winnable game for Gang Green. Despite riding the bench in the first game, Garrett Wilson flashed potential as a playmaker with the ball in his hands throughout preseason and training camp.  

If the Jets hope to win this game, they must get the ball out quickly to the likes of Wilson and Elijah Moore. If the run defense holds up and offensive coordinator Mike Lafleur can get the ball in the hands of playmakers, I anticipate it being a competitive game. My final score prediction for this game is a Jets win by a score of 19-14. 

Matthew Soetebeer and Justin Valenzuela can be reached at matthew.soetebeer@student.shu.edu and justin.valenzuela@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, NFL

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