New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks, Week 14 preview: What you need to know

The 0-12 New York Jets travel to take on former friend Jamal Adams and the 8-4 Seattle Seahawks in the Great Northwest.

In July it felt so far away. Now that it’s here, that feeling in July was appropriate.

Under normal circumstances, a football season would have flown through 13 regular-season weeks. For the New York Jets fan, the 2020 season feels like it’s been played through the mud.

Finally, the Jamal Adams game has arrived.

Where, When, All-Time

• New York Jets (0-12)
• Seattle Seahawks (8-4)
• NFL, Week 13, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
• Lumen Field, Seattle, WA

An angry Seahawks team comes into this one. After their 17-12 loss to Colt McCoy and the New York Giants a week ago, Pete Carroll’s squad looks to get back in the win column. They’ll need this victory to keep pace with the 9-4 Los Angeles Rams.

For the Jets, well, it’s business as usual. Only a game up on the Jacksonville Jaguars in the tank race, the team’s margin for error is slim. In fact, the lead should only be viewed as a half-game lead thanks to the Jags’ all-but-certain strength of schedule tiebreaker advantage.

Seattle leads the all-time series 11-8. Remember, this franchise played in the AFC for a long time prior to the realignment that saw them jump for the NFC in the newly-formed eight-division league. The Seahawks have won the last three meetings dating back to Dec. 21, 2008. The Jets’ last victory came under Herm Edwards in the 2004 campaign.

Cross country matchup coming up.#NYJvsSEA | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/JRZwobExma

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 12, 2020

The Jets will go with their white tops and green pants on the road.

Week 14 threads brought to you by @alldayMAYE.#NYJvsSEA | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/aENUdLXi8e

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 10, 2020

Odds (Sportsbook)

• Money line: Seahawks -1100 | Jets +700
• Spread: Seahawks -14.5 (-110) | Jets +14.5 (-110)
• Over/Under: 52.5 (O: -110, U: -110)

The 14.5-point spread is pretty appropriate. Even without a packed stadium, home-field advantage means something when an east-coast team needs to travel to the west coast.

Injury Report

Just when Sam Darnold had a chance to experience a full complement of wide receivers, it’s been snatched away. Rookie Denzel Mims will miss the game due to a personal issue that forced him to fly home to his native Texas following the Las Vegas Raiders loss. Without ample time to pass the necessary COVID-19 tests to rejoin the team, the kid will miss his seventh game of the season.

Jamison Crowder‘s status is also up in the air. A calf issue forced him to practice on a limited basis Thursday and miss Friday’s session completely. Expect Braxton Berrios to see significant time whether Crowder dresses or not.

Ashtyn Davis, Bennett Jackson and Greg Van Roten all hit the IR Saturday night, while rookie wideout Lawrence Cager and safety Saquan Hampton were signed to the active roster. Jordan Jenkins will also miss the game.

Roster moves:

– Activated CB Bless Austin and TE Trevon Wesco off IR
– Signed WR Lawrence Cager and S Saquan Hampton
– Elevated LB Noah Dawkins and WR Jaleel Scott
– Placed S Ashtyn Davis, S Bennett Jackson and RG Greg Van Roten on IR

📰 https://t.co/B7qXRzBE87 pic.twitter.com/8b83TlpD9y

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 12, 2020

Seattle will be without Jamarco Jones and most likely Travis Homer.

Keys to the Game

Free Sam Darnold

The Adams trade didn’t do much to help Seattle’s defense. Currently ranked 31st in the NFL in total defense (407.4 yards per game), the Jets’ woeful unit is actually ranked two spots better.

Interestingly, the Seahawks are ranked fifth in the league when defending the run—something Adams helps tremendously. Adam Gase’s game plan should be filled with aggressive downfield looks early. Allow Sam Darnold to win or lose the game immediately.

Bend but don’t break defensively

Containing Russell Wilson is an impossibility, and considering we know nothing about how Frank Bush will run this defense, this unit is a complete wild card from a number of angles.

The only hope to find a little success defensively is to play a soft look. Allow the underneath stuff and harden up in the red zone.

Prediction

• New York Jets 13, Seattle Seahawks 37

The Jets’ 13 points could be on the low side, but then again, Crowder’s possible absence could spell doom for Darnold. He loves his slot receivers, which means Berrios could have a monster fantasy game.

What makes this a no-contest is Wilson and the Seahawks offense against that Jets defense. Coming off the Henry Ruggs III miracle and defensive coordinator change, who knows how the unit will come out in this one.