The Jets will need to limit Drew Brees and the high powered Saints' offense at the Superdome on Sunday in order to improve to 4-0.
New York Jets (3-0) @ New Orleans Saints (3-0)
Sunday- 4:05 pm
Superdome- New Orleans, LA
It’s a the battle of the undefeated in the “Big Easy” on Sunday, as the New York Jets take on the New Orleans Saints. The Saints enter the game as the top ranked offense in the NFL, averaging 438 yards per game to go along with a 40 points per game average. The Jets come into town sporting a defense ranked 3rd in the NFL in yards allowed per game (256.0) and 2nd in the NFL in points per game allowed (11.0). Something will have to give in what should be an extremely entertaining and competitive game between two of the NFL’s early season’s best:
MATCH UP BREAKDOWN:
JETS RUNNING GAME vs. SAINTS D:
The Jets will need to establish their running game on Sunday, mainly to eat up the clock and keep Drew Brees and the vaunted Saints offense off the field. The Jets mustered a season-low 86 yards on 28 carries (3.1 avg) in last week’s win vs. the Titans, but they’ll need to have much more success this weekend in order to win the game. The Saints rank 5th in the NFL in rushing defense, but since they’ve yet to trail in a game for even a single second this season, it’s safe to say the teams they’ve played have been straying from their running game while playing from behind. The Jets have by far the best offensive line that the Saints have seen yet this season, so expect solid production from Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, especially if it’s a close game throughout. We should also see a healthy dose of the “Seminole Formation” (the Jets’ version of the “Wildcat”), as Brian Schottenheimer tries to keep the Saints defense on their heels.
EDGE: JETS RUNNING GAME
JETS PASSING GAME vs. SAINTS D
The Jets haven’t exactly opened up the playbook for Mark Sanchez, but the rookie has done everything asked of him to get the Jets to their first 3-0 start since 2004. He has responded tremendously in crucial game situations and Sunday will be his biggest test yet as he tries to keep up with the Quarterback on the opposite sidelines. The Saints are tied for the NFL lead with 7 interceptions, but 6 of those picks came in blowouts against QB’s making their first career NFL starts (Mark Stafford- 3 INT’s in week 1 and Kevin Kolb- 3 INT’s in week 2). Overall, the Saints are ranked 22nd in passing defense, allowing 245 yards per game. The Jets will look to utilize Sanchez’s masterful play-action fakes to freeze FS Darren Sharper and CB Jabari Greer and allow Jerricho Cotchery and the Jets’ receivers to get free in the secondary. If the Jets get down early, Sanchez will have to step up and take his shots downfield to get the Jets back in the game.
EDGE: EVEN
SAINTS RUNNING GAME vs. JETS D
A lot of praise is given to the Saints passing game, and for good reason, but what people often overlook is the fact that they’re a very solid running team as well. The Saints currently rank 2nd in the NFL in rushing offense, with an average of over 170 yards per game. Last week vs. the Bills, RB Pierre Thomas ran for 126 yards and 2 TD’s in the second half alone to lead the Saints to victory. But Thomas will have a much tougher time finding lanes to run through against a Jets team ranked 9th overall in rushing defense. The Jets have to be careful not to let up any big plays on the ground while focusing in on stopping the Saints’ passing attack. Reggie Bush is a weapon out of the backfield, one the Jets will need to contain on the outside and prevent from getting into open space. This match up is too close to call and will likely be dictated by whichever side is able to gain momentum early on.
EDGE: EVEN
SAINTS PASSING GAME vs. JETS D
Drew Brees has carved up NFL defenses this year to the tune of 841 yards (280 ypg) with 9 TD’s and 2 INT’s. He is one of the game’s best signal callers and the true leader of the NFL’s new and improved “Greatest Show on Turf.” WR Marques Colston, coming off an injury riddled 2008 that limited him to just 11 games, has returned healthy this year and has quickly regained the chemistry with Brees that led to his breakout season in 2007. He will be shadowed all game long by Jets star CB Darrelle Revis, forcing Brees to have to spread the ball out to his other options, including TE Jeremy Shockey. “Gang Green’s” defense, which will be without CB’s Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland for the second straight week, will mix up coverages all day long to try to contain Shockey over the middle. The Jets will need to get to Brees like they did Brady two weeks ago, but his quick release will make it hard for Bart Scott and the boys to get much pressure on him. Rex Ryan was a defensive mastermind late in the game vs. the Titans, drawing up an array of blitz schemes and coverages that led to 13 straight incompletions by Kerry Collins to end the game. If the Jets can get a lead in this game, Ryan will look to attack Brees with a similar repertoire.
EDGE: SAINTS PASSING GAME
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Whenever you play in a dome, an advantage in the kicking game is hard to gain as both kickers get to play in a climate-controlled, wind free arena. Both teams have accurate kickers, in Jay Feely for the Jets (19 consecutive successful FG’s) and John Carney for the Saints, so the only advantage to be gained is which kicker gets more opportunities. Leon Washington and Jim Leonhard have been very good in the return game this year for the Jets, often providing the team with great field position. Reggie Bush can be electric on punt returns, but the Jets coverage unit has been impressive this season, coming off a game in which they recorded two fumble recoveries.
EDGE: JETS SPECIAL TEAMS
INTANGIBLES/COACHING:
This game will be a classic chess match between the great defensive mind of Rex Ryan and the great offensive mind of Sean Peyton. Peyton will look to exploit match ups however he can, while Ryan will look to stay aggressive on defense and disguise coverages in an effort to bait Brees into making mistakes. The Saints have a huge home field advantage playing at the Superdome in front of their 70,000 fans. On a side note, Saints LB Jonathan Vilma will play against his former team for the first time since being traded back in February of 2008.
EDGE: SAINTS
BOTTOM LINE:
This will undoubtedly be one of this week’s most entertaining games. Anyone expecting a blowout in this one is way off base as both teams are well coached and disciplined enough to not allow a let down in this most crucial match up. The Jets can’t allow the Saints to get up early and in turn force Sanchez to have to beat them through the air, which is their formula for success. It’s going to be a close game, but in the end the Saints will be a bit too much for the Jets to handle:
Saints 27 Jets 23
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