The New York Jets botched their golden opportunity to get the season on track.
After a 2-4 start, New York faced back-to-back home games against the 0-5 Miami Dolphins and a Las Vegas Raiders team on a four-game losing streak. But after two straight embarrassing losses, the Jets sit at 2-6, with their playoff hopes on the brink of evaporation.
Now, their season hinges on back-to-back games against Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, starting this afternoon, as they visit the former and his 5-2 Kansas City Chiefs.
Can the Jets save their season with the first signature win of Aaron Glenn’s head coaching career? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kickoff.
How to watch
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
- TV: CBS
- Broadcast crew: Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt
Jets-Chiefs is CBS’s No. 1 broadcast this week, so it will be shown to a large portion of the nation. All markets in red on the map below will get the game on their local CBS broadcast (graphic courtesy of 506sports):
Weather
The forecast calls for perfect football weather in western Missouri. The temperature at kickoff is expected to be 62 degrees Fahrenheit, with no chance of precipitation. Winds are expected to be 5 mph out of the west-northwest, and humidity is forecast at 56%.
Uniforms
The Jets are going back to their ill-fated white jersey/green pants combination (aka the “Peter Griffins”). They have a ghastly 5-35 record in that set dating back to 2016. New York has yet to wear their traditional green helmet/white jersey/white pants road combination this season, with this week marking the fourth time they have opted for white-on-green.
The Chiefs will go with their classic combination of red helmets, red jerseys, and white pants.
Injury report
Jets:
- LB Trevin Wallace (Groin): Out
- WR Garrett Wilson (Concussion): Out
- EDGE Joseph Ossai (Ankle): Out
- S VJ Payne (Knee): Out
- DB Nahshon Wright (Back): Out
- DL Harrison Phillips (Ankle): Questionable
Chiefs:
- DT Peter Woods (Neck): Out
- CB Mansoor Delane (Shoulder): Out
- DT Omarr Norman-Lott (Knee): Out
- WR Nikko Remigio (Hip): Questionable
The Jets will have to make do without Garrett Wilson for the first time this season. It yields a golden opportunity for Omar Cooper Jr. and Adonai Mitchell to show what they can do as the focal points of the passing attack.
Backup linebacker and special teamer Trevin Wallace, starting edge defender Joseph Ossai, and backup cornerback Nahshon Wright will also sit for the Jets. Rookie safety VJ Payne was designated to return from injured reserve this week, and the Jets have 21 days to activate him; that is expected to happen at some point in the next two weeks.
In positive news for the Jets, running back Breece Hall and edge rusher David Bailey will return.
Both of Kansas City’s 2026 first-round picks will sit out. Sixth overall pick Mansoor Delane, who has impressed as a starting corner, will miss his third straight contest. Meanwhile, 29th overall pick Peter Woods, a solid rotational defensive tackle, will miss his first game.
The Chiefs’ 2025 second-round pick, defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, is close to returning from a torn ACL that he suffered last October, but will sit out this week.
What to watch for
How do the Jets balance their RBs?
Braelon Allen emerged as one of the NFL’s top running backs over Breece Hall’s five-game absence. With Hall back in the fold, how will the Jets balance the workload between these two players?
Trade rumors have shrouded Hall, but the Jets don’t seem inclined to move him, especially after signing him to a three-year, $43.5 million deal this past offseason. It never hurts to have two capable playmakers out of the backfield; the question is whether offensive coordinator Frank Reich can find creative ways to maximize that luxury.
Can Aaron Glenn measure up to Andy Reid?
Aaron Glenn (5 regular season victories) vs. Andy Reid (6 championship game victories) is one of the more lopsided head coaching matchups that you will see in the NFL.
Reid continues to be at the top of his game at age 68, reinventing the Chiefs’ offense yet again. Meanwhile, Glenn is on the hot seat in New York.
Glenn has yet to record a signature win with the Jets; his best triumph was a rainy home win over Deshaun Watson’s Browns. Can he somehow find a way to upset Reid on the road? If he manages to pull it off, it will be a major step forward in his quest to rebuild his stock within the organization and the fanbase.
Score prediction
- Chiefs 31, Jets 13
After back-to-back losses out west against formidable foes, the Chiefs are motivated to come home and take out their anger on the lowly Jets.
Meanwhile, with Garrett Wilson absent, New York will lack the firepower to keep up with Kansas City’s offense. They do have plenty of excellent young weapons outside of Wilson, but leading the offense without Wilson there to demand attention will be a completely different challenge for them, especially against a solid Chiefs defense that is allowing the fourth-fewest points per game.
Kansas City’s third-ranked red zone defense (38.9%) will be especially problematic for the Wilson-less Jets, who are notoriously bad in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on a league-low 42.3% of trips.
It’s hard to find a matchup that could tilt this game in the Jets’ favor. The Chiefs have run the ball tremendously well with Kenneth Walker Jr., as they lead the NFL in yards per rush attempt (5.1), while the Jets have struggled to stop the run, and they won’t be any better with nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat sidelined. Kansas City’s main weakness is their wide receiver unit, but if they can run the ball, that will open things up for Mahomes and the passing attack.
Above anything else, Reid should be expected to coach circles around Glenn in all aspects. Even if the Jets manage to keep things competitive early, Glenn can be counted on to let the game get away. After blowing a nine-point halftime lead at home against the Raiders last week, things could get much uglier in a road trip to Arrowhead without his team’s best player.
The Chiefs should run away this one, and if they don’t, it would be mildly concerning for them.
