Last Monday night was bittersweet for the Jets as their home opener against Buffalo began with a season-ending injury to Aaron Rodgers and ended with a punt return win by Xavier Gipson.
What will it be like in Dallas for the green and white? More bitter or sweeter?
That will be decided on several fronts.. Can Zach Wilson take over Rodgers’ reins full-time and lead the Jets’ offense against a stout Cowboys defense that held off the Giants at MetLife Stadium the night before the Jets beat the Bills? Can the Jets overcome their short week on the road versus the Cowboys’ longer week at AT&T Stadium? And in the Bucs’ home opener, no less?
More importantly, can the Jets maximize field position, minimize turnovers, and find a way to come away with a victory, ugly or otherwise, to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2015, and thus maintain at least partial control of the AFC East lead. ? A win on the road would also improve the historical chances of making the playoffs by about a third compared to NFL teams’ odds of reaching the postseason after a 1-1 start?
On the personnel front, the Jets will get the delayed 2023 debut of standout pass rusher Carl Lawson to add to a pressure package that has dropped Bills’ Josh Allen five times and turned him over four times. They also signed QB Tim Boyle from their practice squad to their active roster to serve as the lone backup (besides WR Randall Cobb?) behind Wilson.
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