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3 things to watch for as the Jets face the Cowboys
The hunt for the playoffs continues for Gang Green.
A win on Saturday night at the Dallas Cowboys would give the New York Jets their first winning season since 2010. It also would greatly enhance their chances of making the playoffs, which coincidentally they haven't made since, yep, 2010.
And all this with a first-year head coach and a castoff starting quarterback. Not too shabby.
The Cowboys are 4-9, a pretty bad team that seems destined to miss the playoffs for what would be the fourth time in five years. Offensively, they are pretty bad and defensively, they are average at best.
All of which means the Jets should be able to win this game and get win No. 9.
Three Things to Know About the Jets in Week 15:
It is Still All About Fitzmagic
The reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week has been tremendous over the past three weeks, all Jets wins. He has managed the offense but also made big plays for his team. He will be without rookie wide receiver Devin Smith, now out for the year, who was beginning to emerge as a target over the middle. But Fitzpatrick continues to impress and he's limiting mistakes: No interceptions in three games is the ticket to Jets success in this game and beyond.
Cowboys Secondary is Primary
The one strength of this Cowboys team is their secondary and a pass defense that is rather good. They are fourth in the league against the pass and third in touchdowns allowed with 14. But they are susceptible against short to intermediate routes, which is the Jets bread and butter. If the Jets put up points on this Cowboys team, it likely won't be the big play variety but slow, methodical movement down the field. The run defense is rather ordinary, something that the league's fifth leading rusher, Chris Ivory, will surely be looking to exploit.
Marcus and Miles
The Jets secondary will get a big boost this week with Marcus Williams likely return, a player who has arguably been the best cornerback on the team not named Darrelle Revis. And in recent weeks, safety Rontez Miles has transitioned seamlessly from practice squad to the two-deep. Two weeks ago in a win over the New York Giants, he had six tackles and an interception, taking home a game ball. The emergence of these two young players could be huge for the Jets during the stretch win. Williams plays press coverage very well and Miles is a big thumper in run support. More depth this time of year isn't a bad thing for any team.
KRISTIAN DYER
Contributing writer
The hunt for the playoffs continues for Gang Green.
A win on Saturday night at the Dallas Cowboys would give the New York Jets their first winning season since 2010. It also would greatly enhance their chances of making the playoffs, which coincidentally they haven't made since, yep, 2010.
And all this with a first-year head coach and a castoff starting quarterback. Not too shabby.
The Cowboys are 4-9, a pretty bad team that seems destined to miss the playoffs for what would be the fourth time in five years. Offensively, they are pretty bad and defensively, they are average at best.
All of which means the Jets should be able to win this game and get win No. 9.
Three Things to Know About the Jets in Week 15:
It is Still All About Fitzmagic
The reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week has been tremendous over the past three weeks, all Jets wins. He has managed the offense but also made big plays for his team. He will be without rookie wide receiver Devin Smith, now out for the year, who was beginning to emerge as a target over the middle. But Fitzpatrick continues to impress and he's limiting mistakes: No interceptions in three games is the ticket to Jets success in this game and beyond.
Cowboys Secondary is Primary
The one strength of this Cowboys team is their secondary and a pass defense that is rather good. They are fourth in the league against the pass and third in touchdowns allowed with 14. But they are susceptible against short to intermediate routes, which is the Jets bread and butter. If the Jets put up points on this Cowboys team, it likely won't be the big play variety but slow, methodical movement down the field. The run defense is rather ordinary, something that the league's fifth leading rusher, Chris Ivory, will surely be looking to exploit.
Marcus and Miles
The Jets secondary will get a big boost this week with Marcus Williams likely return, a player who has arguably been the best cornerback on the team not named Darrelle Revis. And in recent weeks, safety Rontez Miles has transitioned seamlessly from practice squad to the two-deep. Two weeks ago in a win over the New York Giants, he had six tackles and an interception, taking home a game ball. The emergence of these two young players could be huge for the Jets during the stretch win. Williams plays press coverage very well and Miles is a big thumper in run support. More depth this time of year isn't a bad thing for any team.
KRISTIAN DYER
Contributing writer
