The Jets Week 13 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons will be critical for any momentum and playoff hopes. The Jets are coming off a four-game losing streak, while Atlanta beat their division rival New Orleans Saints. With a win against New Orleans, the Falcons are now 3-0 against the NFC South.
New York is coming off an embarrassing 34-13 loss to division rival Miami Dolphins. Things got worse when Quarterback Tim Boyle threw an interception off a hail mary. Dolphins Safety Jevon Holland returned the pick for a touchdown.
The Jets will seek a win on week 13 since they are on a four-game losing streak. The offensive woes have plagued the Jets all year, not to mention losing Aaron Rodgers to injury. Zach Wilson was recently benched for backup Tim Boyle; that’s how you know things are bad.
Jets Week 13 vs the Falcons
New York will face a leading NFC South Falcons team coming off a big against Derek Carr and the Saints. They also face a promising rookie in running back Bijan Robinson, who is number eight in rushing yards. The Falcons may not be the Chiefs or the Eagles, but they are not a team to sleep on.
Last week, Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder came in the clutch with some big plays, and Robinson looked awesome in the ground game. Robinson rushed for 91 yards with three catches for 92 yards. Safety Jessie Bates has been spectacular the whole season and intercepted Carr for a 92-yard return touchdown.
For the Jets’ week 13 to conclude in a win, New York will have to shut down Atlanta’s run game; that way, the Falcons’ offense will be one-dimensional. Also, the offense has to find some way to get it done and give the defense a chance.
If the Jets are going to have any playoff hopes, it starts with a much-needed week 13 win at home. As of late, Gang Green has lost their last four games. To have signs of life, the Jets must win every upcoming game on their schedule to compete in the AFC East.
Week 13: Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets
- When: Sunday, December 3
- Where: Metlife Stadium
- Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
- Watch: FOX
- Team Records: Atlanta Falcons (5-6), New York Jets (4-7)
Keys to Victory Over Atlanta
Keep a Cool Head on Defense
New York’s defense was called for four personal foul penalties in the 34-13 loss to the Dolphins. Even though the defense has been stout this season, they still have a glaring problem with discipline sometimes. The Falcons offense doesn’t wow anyone, but they can get free opportunities if the defense doesn’t keep a level head.
Contain Bijan Robinson
Gang Green has been horrible against the run this season, so don’t be surprised Atlanta spends the game running the ball down New York’s front seven. The Dolphins rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns on 37 tries—the Falcons average 139.3 rush yards per game, which is fourth in the NFL. They also lead the league in averaging 32.0 carries per game.
The Jets have been one of the most penalized teams as of late. If they are going to save their season, they must avoid penalties. Also, they need to show up and stop the run game from flourishing. New York ranks 31st in run defense, allowing an average of 140.3 yards per game.
Robinson leads the team with 141 carries and 703 rushing yards this year. In three of the last four games he’s played, Robinson scored a rushing touchdown and three receiving scores (32 receptions for 240 yards). The defense will have their hands full with Robinson, who can line up at receiver, run outside the tackles, and play well in the passing game.
Offense Has To Look Good
The Jets week 13 matchup must have some signs of life on offense. The offense is pathetically awful. Gang Green’s offense is riding on their third quarterback for the second straight year, and they’ve endured the injury bug. The Jets offense struggles to move the ball and generate points, and there’s little reason to feel that anything will get better.
A key for a Jets week 13 win is for the offense to be functional against a good Atlanta defense. The Falcons have some stout talent on the defensive side of the ball. However, they are not excellent at stopping the run or the pass. If the Jets will have any chance at all, they must get to the red zone and score points.
There is only so much to say about the incompetency of the New York Jets offense, but they will have to show up big against the 14th-ranked Atlanta defense. Most importantly, Tim Boyle must be an X-Factor for the Jets to win.
The disastrous quarterback play from the Jets shows that no matter how well they play, it is irrelevant if the quarterback isn’t producing when it matters. If Tim Boyle plays well, the Jets could have an opportunity for a week 13 win. Although there is little to no reason to think he would, the Jets still need production on quarterback play.
If the Jets are going to lift themselves and compete in the AFC East, they must get momentum by beating the NFC South division-leading Atlanta Falcons. A week 13 win can help fans regain some faith in the team.
Main Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
