The New York Jets will be on primetime (once again) in Week 10 in a road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a forgettable outing from the Jets versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night in Week 9, losing 27-6.
The Jets now hold a 4-4 record entering Sunday’s contest, and there are odds of clinching a spot in the playoffs are dwindling. Meanwhile, the Raiders are coming off a win against the New York Giants in Week 9 as Antonio Pierce made his coaching debut following the firing of Josh McDaniels.
In what is essentially a must-win game for the Jets, here are six players to keep an eye on in Week 10.
QB Zach Wilson
In last week’s lopsided loss to the Chargers, Zach Wilson completed 33 of his 49 attempts for 263 yards, and he lost two fumbles. Since starting in Week 2 in relief of Aaron Rodgers, Wilson has the worst EPA per play (-0.265) among all starting quarterbacks in the NFL.
Rodgers is eyeing a return to the Jets before the regular season concludes, but it may be for naught if the team isn’t in contention for a playoff spot. With turnovers becoming an issue again for the third-year quarterback in recent weeks, Wilson needs to take care of the football and simply be better to help the Jets improve to 5-4 this week.
RB Breece Hall
Throughout the season, there have only been two constants in New York’s offense: Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. Since Robert Saleh removed the snap limitations from Hall in Week 5, the dynamic back has combined for 440 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 80 touches in four games.
Hall is always capable of breaking off a long run or turning a short pass into a game-altering play. The Raiders are 29th in run defense DVOA and allow 4.5 yards per attempt (tied for sixth-most in the NFL), putting Hall in a prime position to excel in Week 10.
OT Max Mitchell
Injuries continue to plague the offensive line of the Jets this season, with Billy Turner — who started at right tackle in Week 9 — expected to miss Sunday’s matchup with a hand injury. All signs point toward Max Mitchell returning to right tackle, and he’ll likely draw the responsibility of having to block Maxx Crosby.
Crosby has notched 56 combined tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in the first nine weeks. The lethal pass rusher for the Raiders is capable of wrecking a game by his lonesome, so it will be up to Mitchell and the other offensive linemen on the Jets to ensure he isn’t living in the backfield on Sunday night.
DT Quinnen Williams
Much has been made recently about the lack of sacks that Quinnen Williams has recorded this season. The All-Pro interior defender has tallied 28 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, and only half a sack entering Week 10.
Sacks don’t tell the full story as Williams is still third on the Jets in total pressures (31) and he’s second in quarterback hurries (25) on the season. The Raiders have a rookie quarterback in Aidan O’Connell operating the offense and Williams could be in store for a productive outing against a mediocre interior offensive line group.
LB C.J. Mosley
With how well the defense of the Jets is playing this season, C.J. Mosley deserves credit for how he’s performed at inside linebacker. The veteran linebacker has posted 82 combined tackles, five pass breakups, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and half a sack.
The Raiders are going to lean on Josh Jacobs down the stretch, and it will be up to Mosley and the other front seven members of the Jets to make Las Vegas one-dimensional on offense. Mosley has double-digit tackles in five of his last six games and he should be busy again on Sunday night.
CB D.J. Reed
Another defensive player on the Jets that not enough people are talking about is D.J. Reed. Sauce Gardner receives a lot of attention — and deservedly so — but Reed is the highest-graded cornerback on PFF this season.
The Jets have two duos graded in the Top-10 of their positions 👀 pic.twitter.com/jC8635OUlv
— PFF (@PFF) November 8, 2023
Reed has allowed only 15 receptions for 131 yards and zero touchdowns in coverage for the six games he’s been active in. The talented cornerback will likely see plenty of Davante Adams on Sunday night, and it should be an exciting matchup to watch.
