Here are three keys to the game heading into Week 3’s showdown as the Jets (1-1) take on the Bengals (0-2).
Battle of the Trenches
The matchup to look out for is how the Bengals offensive line holds up against the Jets defensive line. This past offseason, both teams allocated significant resources to help bolster those position groups. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Jets traded back into the first round to select Jermaine Johnson out of Florida State with the 26th pick. Jermaine finished his senior year with 11.5 sacks, and he added much-needed speed and physicality to the defensive line.
Lining up on the opposite side is their big 2021 free agent signing, Carl Lawson, who missed all of last year with a torn Achilles. Currently, the Jets have the 3rd most money invested into the defensive line; therefore, it should be one of the top units in the league.
Heading into the 2022 season, the Bengals added four new starters to their offensive line, including former Dallas Cowboys right tackle La’el Collins. The Bengals have had a rough time keeping their star QB, Joe Burrow, upright as in the last five games, including playoffs, he has been pressured 74 times and sacked 30 times. 13 of those 30 sacks have come in the first two games of the 2022 season. That has amounted to being 31st in sack rate with (12.7%).
Luckily, up to this point, the Jets defensive line has disappointed while only ranking 21st in pressure rate (2.74 seconds). The Jets have only three sacks heading into Week 3. This has the opportunity to be a statement game for both units, and whoever wins this matchup will most likely be going home with a W.
DJ Reed/Sauce Gardner vs. Higgins/Chase
Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Ja’marr Chase and Tee Higgins have been one of the most lethal WR duos in the league, combining for over 2,500 yards. But with the Bengals offense only ranking 15th, I expect the game plan to feature their star WR Chase early and often, similarly to week 1 when Chase ended up with 10 catches and 129 yards.
But don’t expect it to be an easy task because according to PPF, DJ Reed is the 7th ranked corner with a 77.4 grade. In week 1, Reed was targeted six times, allowed 0 catches, and even had an interception. He followed it up in week 2 vs. the Browns by only allowing 24 yards.
On the other hand, Sauce Gardner has shown flashes but had a rough time in week two when lined up against veteran WR Amari Cooper giving up 5 catches on 6 targets. It will be interesting to see how Sauce bounces back vs. arguably an already top 5 WR in Chase. In a recent interview, Tee Higgins spoke highly of Sauce, saying, “He’s just one of those rare talents.”
Embracing the Opportunity
Even though we are only going into week 3, I expect this game to be a season-defining game for both sides. For the Bengals, this is an opportunity to show the rest of the NFL that they are still the team that made the Super Bowl just seven months ago. They will be fighting to stage off an 0-3 start that has been nearly impossible to overcome throughout history. Since 1980, 176 teams have started 0-3, and only six have managed to get into the playoffs.
For the Jets, this is an opportunity to start the season 2-1 for the first time since 2015. After a come-from-behind week 2 win that included two touchdowns and an onside kick recovery, all in 95 seconds, this becomes a game that can be used to prove it wasn’t a fluke win but rather that the Jets are a team on the rise.
