The New York Jets clash with the Indianapolis Colts at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey during their second Monday Night Football appearance. The Jets season has continued to be an awful one, sitting at the bottom of the AFC East with 3-8 record.
The Colts are sitting in third place with a 5-6 record, just one game behind the Tennesee Titans and Houston Texans. At this point the Colts are playing for a playoff berth and the Jets are playing either for a top five pick, or pride. Here are the keys to victory for the New York Jets.
New York Jets Week 13 Keys to Victory
Ryan Fitzpatrick Needs his FitzMagic Back
The most important thing the Jets need in order to come away with a win is for Ryan Fitzpatrick to play well. It is no secret that Fitzpatrick has struggled most of the season. He did win offensive player of the week after playing well against the Buffalo Bills in week two, but that performance has not been replicated. When Fitzpatrick plays well, the Jets play well. Fitzpatrick needs to be a leader and turn in a great game against the Colts in order to get a win. When he struggles the entire offense struggles. Fitzpatrick cannot make mental errors and throw into double coverage, or make poor throws. The Jets need him to throw good passes to the team’s new dynamic duo of receivers, Brandon Marshall and Quincy Enunwa. If Fitzpatrick can find his FitzMagic again, and give good passes to Marshall and Enunwa then we have a great chance to achieve victory.
Fitzpatrick has to get his level play back from 2015 for the Jets to have any chance to win not just this game, but any of the remaining games on the schedule. He’s had plenty of completions and touchdowns as well as some rushing yards all to his credit. He led the team and the team was behind him for sure. As of right now, head coach Todd Bowles is behind him, naming him the starter after Bryce Petty started for one week. But the fans are not behind him, the locker room is going to lose confidence soon as well. He needs to turn in not just a good rest of the season, but a sensational end of the season. His job may depend on it come 2017.
Execution is Key
The Jets can’t afford to make any mental errors. That means no poor route running, no missed blocks and, most importantly, no turnovers. Interceptions and fumbles have been the downfall in the past for the Jets, that cannot continue for the remainder of the season. Smart play is another key to victory for the Jets
RedZone Production
For the majority of the season, the Jets have not ben able to cap off their drives with a touchdown. Sure, maybe a field goal, but they really need to put six points on the board not three points. As a team, the Jets are ranked dead last in red zone scoring for touchdowns.
Defense Needs to Stand Fast
The Jets defense overall has been a disappointment this season. They potentially have the most fearsome defense in the league, and they are not playing like that at all. The secondary has been susceptible all season long and the opposing teams know it. If Andrew Luck clears the concussion protocol in time for the game (which there is a very good chance he will), then the secondary will have their work cut out for them. With Frank Gore averaging about 3.8 yards a game on the ground, the front four of the Jets will have to do their part as well.
The Jets absolutely need to avoid all mistakes leading to turnovers. The receivers need to run sharp routes, Fitzpatrick needs to hit his target and avoid interceptions, and as a team they need to play smart. The Colts are not necessarily a powerhouse team coming into the game, but they are not a team to be taken lightly, and for a struggling Jets team it will take grit to come away with the victory.
