There aren’t often “must-win games” in Week 5, but the New York Jets are almost at that point. Entering Sunday at 1-3 and visiting a 1-3 Denver Broncos team, the Jets really can’t afford a major slipup here to fall to 1-4 with the Philadelphia Eagles looming in Week 6. This game is majorly important to the Jets.
The key Sunday is the Jets have to find a way to allow quarterback Zach Wilson to replicate his performance from last week against the Chiefs. Find a way to allow Wilson to continue feeling confident in his abilities and let him make plays and throw the ball downfield. An expanded offense — and having Breece Hall not tied down to a pitch count — can do wonders for the development of Wilson and the chances of New York winning this football game.
Buy Jets TicketsDenver has also struggled on defense, so this could be a perfect opportunity for Nathaniel Hackett to really start toying with the playbook. Denver certainly isn’t as bad as the 70-20 game against the Miami Dolphins, but it’s a down unit overall, nonetheless. Injuries have affected their play, but it’s still a unit that can be much better.
The Jets’ secondary depth will certainly be tested Sunday with both D.J. Reed and Brandin Echols out against the Broncos. We’ll see what the Jets do with their lineup, whether it’s Bryce Hall or Michael Carter II who steps in as the starter outside opposite Sauce Gardner. Gardner against either Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy will obviously be a matchup to watch.
Overall, this is a big one for the Eagles. Don’t get caught looking ahead to the Eagles. But at 1-3, they shouldn’t be overlooking anyone anyway. Denver is favored, but the Jets built some momentum, despite the loss to the Chiefs. Even with the secondary injuries, the Jets should be able to control the ball and should be giving Breece Hall every opportunity for an explosive play.
Prediction: Jets 31, Broncos 23
