The Jets must attack the Chiefs aggressively
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—Funny enough, the New York Jets world is in “now or never” and/or “burn it down” mode in spite of being in the same exact situation they found themselves a year ago after three games …
One win and two losses.
It was at this point, Week 4, when Robert Saleh‘s team ripped off four straight victories en route to starting 5-2. They kept receipts and kept it moving, first shocking the Pittsburgh Steelers in Western PA after trailing by two scores in the fourth quarter.
The good times culminated in Week 6 when the Jets shocked none other than Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, 27-10. (Technically speaking, the team’s win in Denver over the Broncos culminated the winning streak, but losing Breece Hall and Alijah Vera-Tucker sort of doomed things.)
Either way, the Jets world is indeed on fire despite similar circumstances to the 2022 season.
Can they somehow find a way to overcome the massive odds that are stacked against them? Hosting the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (and Taylor Swift) at MetLife Stadium for a Sunday night affair is quite the acid test.
Jets vs. Chiefs game info
- New York Jets (1-2)
- Kansas City Chiefs (2-1)
- NFL, Week 4, Oct. 1, 2023, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Will you be “waiting all day for Sunday night?” Most likely not, as the NBC Sunday Night Football slogan still makes no sense all these years later. (After all, who’s impatiently waiting for the Sunday night game when an entire slate of football is ongoing during the day?)
Silly anthems aside, NBC is dealing with a broadcasting issue once a star player goes on the shelf for the season: The company is set to broadcast a game it would have no interest in if Rodgers never arrived in North Jersey this past offseason.
Kickoff is slated for 8:20 p.m. ET, from MetLife Stadium. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be on the call.
One of the few bright spots for the Jets is the uniform look in primetime, as they’re breaking out the classic 1980s jersey for this one (which should be their standard uniform as soon as possible):
Fit for prime time. pic.twitter.com/iSxXUxxfOL
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 30, 2023
Jets vs. Chiefs history
- The Chiefs lead the all-time series 20-19-1
The New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time record is quite the contest. Two of the original AFL franchises have gone back and forth in the series since 1960, the year of the first head-to-head meeting with the New York Titans defeating the Dallas Texans 37-35.
The last meeting between the two came during the Adam Gase era, and it wasn’t pretty for the Jets. Patrick Mahomes’s Chiefs beat down the Jets at Arrowhead Stadium, 35-9.
Jets vs. Chiefs odds (FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Spread: Jets +8.5 (-110), Chiefs -8.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Jets +330, Chiefs -420
- Over/Under: 41.5 (O: -105, U: -115)
Naturally, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Jets’ odds at extremely slim. Despite having home-field advantage, New York enters this one as 8.5 home underdogs.
Jets vs. Chiefs injury report
Other than the big one that’ll loom large all season—the Aaron Rodgers Achilles injury—the Jets have managed to remain relatively healthy.
New York Jets
- Tony Adams (Out)
- Wes Schweitzer (Out)
This week, only safety Tony Adams and guard Wes Schweitzer will miss the game via injury.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Nick Bolton (Out)
- Jaylen Watson (Out)
On Kansas City’s side, linebacker Nick Bolton and cornerback Jaylen Watson are both out.
Jets’ keys to victory
Offense: Attack, attack, and attack some more
Reviewing the Jets’ film against the Patriots screams just one horrendous idea: The Jets play scared football.
Not only is Zach Wilson afraid of making a mistake, but Robert Saleh is also afraid of his quarterback making a mistake. So much so that the entire game plan is set up in a way that crushes an offense in today’s run-and-gun NFL where three-step drops dominate defenses.
First-down passing and a modern offensive attack are essential, especially against the high-scoring Chiefs. Instead of telling Wilson to never make a mistake, it’s time to tell him to make more plays than he does mistakes.
Until they actually give it the old college try, nothing will change from an offensive perspective.
Defense: Use Sauce Gardner at max capacity
Allow Sauce Gardner to travel with tight end Travis Kelce. Remove the extra bit of stubbornness that is Sauce always playing on the left with D.J. Reed on the right.
With his length, Sauce is the perfect cover guy to potentially have success in slowing down the physical and smart Kelce.
Jets vs. Chiefs prediction
- New York Jets 13, Kansas City Chiefs 24
Until I see the New York Jets actually open up the playbook a bit, and give the offense a chance to get ahead of the defensive game plan, there’s no way I’ll take them to win.
However, I do think Jeff Ulbrich’s defense will put up a much more admirable fight than others think. And if the Jets can somehow instil confidence in the quarterback and offense early in the game, the Jets could make it interesting in the second half.