Jets can earn first division win since 2019 Sunday against Miami
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright) Credit: AP/Don Wright
D.J. Reed played for Seattle the past two years, so he’s had no part in the Jets’ futility in the AFC East. Going two straight years without a divisional win shocked the veteran cornerback, though.
“That’s crazy,” Reed told Newsday. “When I first heard that I was like, ‘Wow.’ That’s tough. It’s been 12 games."
With Miami visiting MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Reed said this group is hungry to end that ugly skid of 12 straight defeats to the Dolphins, Bills and Patriots.
“Every game is a championship week, but this week right here, man, winning this game would be tremendous for the organization, for the players, for the coaches, for everybody, the fans. Man, it would be great. That’s what we’re focused on doing this week.”
The last time the Jets won a game against a division opponent was Dec. 29, 2019, in Buffalo. They beat the Bills, 13-6. Buffalo had already clinched a playoff spot and rested many of its starters.
During the skid, eight losses were by 10 points or more.
“We definitely aren’t the same Jets,” Reed said. “We’re a very unique team with a lot of young guys mixed with veterans. We definitely want to be our own person, our own team. We’re really aggressive, really hungry, real gritty. That’s the type of team I feel like we have.”
The Jets (2-2) are hoping to build off of their comeback victory in Pittsburgh last week. Every game, it seems like the Jets can do something for the first time in a long time. There are a number of those possibilities Sunday.
They’re going for their first home win of 2022, their first two-game winning streak under Coach Robert Saleh and a win would put them above .500 for the first time since they were 1-0 in 2018.
“We can’t dwell on the past,” linebacker Kwon Alexander said. “The only thing I can worry about is now, helping this organization rise up to the top and be the top team in their division.”
A win could give the Jets a share of the division lead. The Dolphins and Bills are 3-1. Buffalo plays the Steelers in rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett’s first NFL start.
Saleh talked last year about closing the gap in the division. The easiest path to the playoffs, where the Jets haven’t been in 11 years, is to win your division, something they haven’t done since 2002.
“We talk about it some,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said about the losing streak. “It’s always good to understand what games you’re playing in and why you’re playing the games. These type of games count two-for-one for us. You win the division, you’re in the playoffs. But at the end of the day we don’t want to make it too much than what it is.”
The Jets showed some growth last week, scoring 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in Pittsburgh. The defense had four takeaways and Zach Wilson led two late-game touchdown drives in his season debut.
But Miami is a far more explosive offensive team, and boasts some of the fastest players in the league.
Saleh called the Dolphins a “four-by-100 relay team,” with running back Raheem Mostert, receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and tight end Mike Gesicki.
Hill (quad) and Waddle (groin) could be slowed a little by the issues that limited them in practice. Both were listed as questionable, but they’re expected to play. Teddy Bridgewater replaces quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is out with a concussion.
The Jets don’t think that will change the offense much. They’re preparing for a lot of pre-snap motion, receivers stretching the field and creating space and heavy doses of Mostert and Chase Edmonds either running the ball or catching it out of the backfield.
“It’s a tremendous challenge because at the end of the day with all their speed, Mike McDaniel at heart is a run-first guy,” Saleh said. “He wants to run the ball. They got exotic runs and you’ve got to be able to pay attention to that part of it. If you just sit there and try to play as far as back you can they can gash you in the run game.
“It’s a tremendous challenge because of the amount of stress they put on you vertically and horizontally.”
The Jets are very familiar with the system. They run something similar. McDaniel and Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur worked on three offensive staffs together, most recently in San Francisco.
There is some unfamiliarity, though. The Jets starting cornerbacks, Reed and rookie Sauce Gardner, have never played against Hill and Waddle.
“I’m looking forward to it," Reed said. "I love those matchups, playing against guys that are top in the league. I definitely don’t shy away from it. Those two are great players, elite, world-class speed. It’s going to be fun. Me and Sauce, it’s going to be fun for us.”
Brown activated
The Jets activated left tackle Duane Brown from injured reserve and placed right tackle Max Mitchell (knee) on IR.
Brown will make his season debut Sunday against Miami. He missed the first four games with a shoulder injury that he suffered in practice. The Jets signed him after losing Mekhi Becton (fractured kneecap) for the season.
With Brown back, Alijah Vera-Tucker will go back to the right side of the line. Vera-Tucker, who started the season at right guard, played left tackle last week. The versatile and valuable Vera-Tucker could either return to right guard or replace Mitchell at right tackle. Mitchell will miss a minimum of four games.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
