The New York Jets failed to take advantage of a banged-up Green Bay Packers team in Week 2, but they may still have two more chances to exploit NFC North teams without their superstars.
Coming up next for New York are a pair of road games against the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears. On Monday, the Jets learned that they could be facing a backup quarterback in one of those games.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson stated that quarterback Caleb Williams is “week to week” with a hamstring injury and “will likely miss some time.” That will almost assuredly keep him out for Chicago’s Week 3 game against the Eagles on Monday Night Football, and there is a chance that he could miss their Week 4 game against the Jets as well, which is in 13 days.
If Williams sits out, or is even limited by the injury, it continues a string of injury breaks for the Jets in this NFC North portion of their early-season schedule.
New York already failed to maximize the first of those games. Despite facing a Packers team that was without edge rusher Micah Parsons and running back Josh Jacobs, the Jets blew a 17-7 fourth-quarter lead, losing 20-17 in overtime. The Packers also lost wide receiver Jayden Reed and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele in the first quarter.
Luckily for the Jets, the next two games in their NFC North gauntlet do not look as daunting as they did before the season, due to the crucial injuries for both teams.
The Lions will be without the star safety duo of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, who were both placed on the PUP list before the season. Detroit’s defense has looked abysmal without Branch and Joseph, ranking 31st in both passing yards per game allowed (310.5) and points per game allowed (35.5) through two weeks.
Your team. Your decisions.
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Now, it appears that the Bears may be without their starting quarterback. Tyson Bagent is in line to start in Week 3, while Case Keenum is listed as the third-string quarterback.
The football gods may be giving the Jets a window to right the wrongs of Week 2 by stealing one of these two road games, both of which will likely feature them as heavy underdogs. If the Jets can get out of Week 4 with at least a 2-2 record, they will be in a solid position entering the middle portion of their schedule.
