An inside take a look at Sunday’s Jets-Steelers NFL Week 2 matchup at MetLife Stadium:
Marquee matchup
Payments QB Josh Allen vs. Jets entrance seven
The Jets don’t get a break in Week 2 after going through a rejuvenated Aaron Rodgers final week. Josh Allen is working at an unbelievably excessive degree proper now.
He received his first MVP award final season and placed on a present in a 41-40 win over the Ravens final week — when he threw for 251 yards within the fourth quarter and led the Payments to 3 scores within the last 4 minutes of the comeback win.
The Jets move protection was leaky in opposition to the Steelers with a number of protection breakdowns. It’s going to be key to stress Allen and never let him escape the pocket.
“There’s various issues he does properly,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn stated. “He’s large, he’s bodily, one factor that basically stands out about him is he’s extremely, extremely aggressive. He’s a kind of guys who can will his staff to victory. That’s one factor we have now to do a extremely good job of — our will must be stronger than his will. That’s a problem in itself due to who he’s. That is going to be a recreation of who out-wills one another.”
The Jets sacked Rodgers 4 occasions final week, led by Will McDonald’s two sacks.
The Jets have performed properly in opposition to Allen via the years. He has 11 interceptions and 7 fumbles in opposition to them, essentially the most in opposition to anybody in his profession in each classes.
4 downs
Secondary difficulty: The Jets had main points in protection within the loss to the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers threw 4 touchdowns, and two of them had been immediately due to protection breakdowns.
Outdoors of Sauce Gardner, the defensive backs weren’t robust. Brandon Stephens had a very dangerous day with a landing allowed, a missed interception and a missed sort out that had been all pricey.
“Brandon has been doing a extremely good job in protection all via coaching camp,” coach Aaron Glenn stated. “The factor that we have now to proceed to work on with him is with the ability to find and end on the ball. Pay attention, I’m inspired, and I do suppose because the season progresses he’ll be capable to make these performs as a result of he’s a extremely good cowl man, and that confirmed … on tape. I feel a number of the zone protection we have now to get higher at so far as understanding precisely the place guys are and matching these guys for essentially the most half.”
Floor assault: The Jets confirmed what their working recreation can appear to be in opposition to the Steelers. They ran for 182 yards, led by Breece Corridor’s 107 yards on 19 carries.
Now they’ve an opportunity to do it once more in opposition to a Payments staff that gave up 238 yards speeding within the win over the Ravens.
The Payments additionally can be with out begin defensive sort out Ed Oliver, who injured his ankle this week.
“One thing we’ve talked about all through the spring and into coaching camp of what our DNA and what we need to appear to be on offense, I feel that confirmed up,” offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand stated. “And that was constructive for us in that first recreation.”
Sub division: That is the primary AFC East recreation for Glenn as coach. The Jets haven’t received the division since 2002. If issues are actually going to vary across the Jets, they should begin successful video games contained in the division.
They went 2-4 in opposition to the division final 12 months, together with a sweep by the hands of the Payments. Their final victory over the Payments was within the 2023 season opener. Glenn stated he isn’t placing added significance on this recreation, although.
“I perceive that the quickest option to get to the playoffs is to win your division,” Glenn stated. “I see it from that facet. To me, I take a look at every recreation in itself, and hear, I come to win each recreation. It doesn’t matter. All of them imply the identical to me, to be trustworthy with you.”
Wake me up when September ends: The month of September has not been type to the Jets in recent times. Final week’s loss to the Steelers drops them to 6-21 in September video games since 2017. They are going to be attempting to reverse that pattern with three extra video games coming this month in opposition to the Payments, Buccaneers and Dolphins.
The Jets haven’t began 0-2 since 2021, which was Robert Saleh’s first season as coach. It’s uncommon for groups that begin 0-2 to make the playoffs, making this one much more essential.
Costello’s name
The gulf between the Payments and Jets within the division has been large for years, however these two groups are likely to play shut video games at MetLife Stadium. 5 of the previous six conferences right here have been determined by one rating. The Jets offense will make noise once more, however Josh Allen proves to be an excessive amount of and pulls out one other shut one.
Payments 31, Jets 30
