The New York Jets have to be feeling good entering Week 9. Sure, the win against the New York Giants was about as ugly as it can be, but they still came away with their third straight win to move to 4-3 and be in a position to move into a playoff spot with a win Monday.
That positive thinking should carry over into Week 9 against the Los Angeles Chargers and the Jets should feel like they can win their fourth straight game. Here are a few reasons for optimism as the Jets try to get to 5-3.
The Jets have played some of their best football on prime time this season
The Jets have played two prime time games this season. They are 1-1 in those games but very well could be 2-0.
In Week 1, things looked bleak very early when Aaron Rodgers left with a torn Achilles. The defense picked up the slack in a big way and Zach Wilson played well enough to keep the Jets in the game. Xavier Gipson provided the big highlight with the overtime punt-return touchdown to give the Jets a 22-16 Opening Night win over the Buffalo Bills.
In Week 4, the Jets lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-20. That game, however, was Wilson’s best game of the season. He went toe-to-toe and even outperformed Patrick Mahomes. A killer turnover late sealed the Jets’ fate, but after a nice comeback in the second half, the Jets were in position to knock off the defending champions.
Long story short, the Jets under the lights this season, and being at home, seems to bring out the best in Gang Green. No reason to think that won’t happen again against the Chargers.
The Jets have the tools to slow down the Chargers’ offense
The Jets enter Monday allowing the sixth-fewest passing yards per game at 184.4 and it’s not like they’ve faced bottom-feeders in the league. They’ve held some of the best quarterbacks in check this season, including the top three vote-getters in last year’s MVP voting (Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen).
They should have the confidence to do the same to Justin Herbert on Monday. Both with their defensive backs against the Chargers’ wide receivers — a group that is now without Joshua Palmer — and with their defensive line getting after Herbert.
This feels like another game where the defense is going to shine on a big stage against a good unit.
Zach Wilson may have a chance to shine against league’s worst passing defense
The Jets’ defense can shine against the Chargers’ offense but the Jets’ offense can also shine against the Chargers’ defense as well. This is a week where the passing game can start to gain some momentum. The Chargers enter Monday allowing the most passing yards per game and it’s not particularly close.
The Chargers are allowing 297.4 passing yards per game. The next-worst team is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 279.4. Those 18 extra yards can make a world of difference. The Chargers also rank 27th in defensive DVOA. Another prime performance in prime time from Zach Wilson, specifically like the one against the Chiefs in Week 4, will go a long way Monday.
