Sports Illustrated Tabs Jets as One of Five NFL Teams with 'Most at Stake' This Week

Win over Eagles could alter trajectory of Gang Green's season

Author:
Ralph Ventre
Publish date:
Oct 13, 2023 7:55 PM EDT

In this story:

Even without Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets have a chance to complete their grueling season-opening six-game stretch with a 3-3 record. Such an accomplishment would place the Jets right in the middle of tightly-packed AFC playoff hopefuls.

There is plenty on the line when Gang Green welcomes the Philadelphia Eagles to MetLife Stadium on October 15. The rare clash of turnpike rivals provides the Jets the opportunity to make a statement against an undefeated team that they've never beaten.

"They’ve got playmakers all over the place. It’s as talented a group as I’ve seen in a long time," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh about the 5-0 Eagles on Friday. "There’s a reason why they were the NFC champs and that close to winning a Super Bowl. It’s going to be a challenge."

The Week 6 result can potentially go a long way in affecting the trajectory of the Jets' season. Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr argues that the Green & White are one of five NFL teams with the "most at stake" this week.

In addition to the Jets, the Jacksonville Jaguars and three NFC South teams — Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta — comprised the featured quintet.

From Jets, Jaguars Among Teams With the Most at Stake:

— New York Jets (2–3) —

At stake: The Jets have some serious emotional equity at stake in this game against the Eagles. While sinking from 2–3 to 2–4 is difficult optically, I don’t think it matters as much as having a capable offensive performance against a defensive unit that could easily rip Zach Wilson apart if the game gets away from the Jets early. Right now, the Jets are building a kind of house of cards. Robert Saleh has done an incredible job rallying the clubhouse around Wilson after watching the team abandon Wilson for Mike White a year ago. But, ultimately, this strategy will go only so far as Wilson and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett take it. The Eagles were a Super Bowl contender last year thanks to their versatile defense. This unit has everything and can match up well with anyone. The Jets will obviously try to turn this into a crawl through the briar patch. If this game ends without a catastrophic Wilson mistake and within seven points, I think it propels them into three consecutive games against softer defenses such as the Raiders, Giants and Chargers. I think if the Jets are bulldozed, we’re close to assembling the white flag pole.

Trade deadline ramifications: Because the Jets are hoping to get Aaron Rodgers back at the tail end of this season or next season, there is no sense in blowing up the roster, though a loss here could make someone such as Dalvin Cook, a 2024 free agent, expendable. Next year’s free-agent running back class is solid, and if the Jets are going to reload again for Rodgers and still feel they need a Breece Hall safety net, Cook isn’t the only option.

— Conor Orr

The Jets' secondary will be short-handed for the important Week 6 matchup in East Rutherford. Three cornerbacks, including starter D.J. Reed, were ruled out on Friday. All-Pro defensive back Sauce Gardner also appeared on the injury report due to an illness and carries a questionable tag heading into Sunday.

The Eagles will be without cornerback Darius Slay, safety Justin Evans, defensive tackle Jalen Carter and offensive weapon Quez Watkins. The game is set to kick off at 4:25 pm ET on FOX.