The Jets host the Broncos on Sunday, hoping to defeat them for the third straight season.
Denver avoided an 0-3 start with a win over the Buccaneers last Sunday, but they will be a road underdog against New York this weekend.
Here are the biggest stories to watch as the Jets look to improve to 3-1…
Is this a trap game for the Jets?
With a league-high 14-year postseason drought, the Jets should be the last team to overlook an opponent, but it would perhaps be understandable if some of the young players are looking ahead to the showdown with Sam Darnold and the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in London next weekend.
That’s where players like Aaron Rodgers will be crucial to ensure that the Jets prepare well and don’t underestimate an opponent that just upset a playoff team from last season.
Will Patrick Surtain be able to shut down Garrett Wilson?
Surtain became the highest paid defensive back during the offseason when he signed a four-year, $96 million extension. And he’s been living up to that deal so far.
Surtain has covered DK Metcalf, George Pickens, and Mike Evans in the three games so far, holding them to a combined 53 receiving yards. All three have put up big numbers in their other two games. The only negative when it comes to Surtain is penalties — he already has six this season.
On Sunday, Surtain will presumably be tasked with covering Wilson, whose production is down from last year. The Jets have other options, but Wilson won’t want to just be a decoy, so it will be interesting to see what the Jets do to get him involved.
Could this be another revenge game for Nathaniel Hackett?
Ahead of the 2023 season, Broncos head coach Sean Payton was shockingly critical of the job current Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett had done as his predecessor. Although the Jets already got some revenge with their 31-21 win in Denver last October, this matter is likely not yet forgotten.
It seems probable that the fiercely loyal Rodgers will want to put forward a strong offensive effort to reiterate the point that his good friend Hackett deserves respect. With the long week to prepare, perhaps New York’s offense will have had a chance to work on some special looks designed to showcase just how good Hackett’s offensive system can be.
Can the Jets force Bo Nix into some key mistakes?
Nix struggled in the first two games, but he got his first NFL win in Week 3. Nevertheless, he has four interceptions and zero touchdowns so far.
Nix has only been sacked four times this season, and the Jets will be expecting to add to that number. However, he has some running ability, with two touchdowns and 11 first downs this season. So the Jets must ensure they keep him contained and force him to make some throws under duress.
Perhaps this will be the week that Sauce Gardner breaks his long streak of games without an interception. That would be a good statement to make while playing against Surtain, whose contract Gardner will be looking to match or surpass soon.
Could this be a surprisingly low-scoring affair?
Both teams seem to be getting better and better defensively. The Jets gave up 32 points to the 49ers, then 17 against the Titans, before holding New England to three. Similarly, Denver gave up 26 to Seattle, 13 in their loss against Pittsburgh, and just seven against the Bucs.
The way things are headed, it’s becoming increasingly tougher to score on either of these teams. Each of them is also coming off their best offensive game of the season.
The Jets scored three touchdowns in each of their games so far. If they can do that again on Sunday, it should make things tough for a Denver team that has scored just three touchdowns all season.
