The New York Jets are set to come off of their bye week from Week 7 to take on their neighbors, the New York Giants, in Week 8. The Jets pulled off an impressive upset over the Philadelphia Eagles before their bye week to improve to 3-3 on the season.
The Giants secured a 14-7 victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 7 with Tyrod Taylor filling in at quarterback for the injured Daniel Jones. It remains to be seen if Jones is cleared to return following a two-game absence because of a neck injury.
With the Jets looking to remain firmly in the AFC playoff picture, here are six players to watch in Sunday’s meeting versus the Giants.
QB Zach Wilson
We haven’t seen Zach Wilson take massive leaps in his game to where we can consider him to be New York’s future franchise quarterback. At the very least, Wilson has played some of the best football of his career in relief of Aaron Rodgers.
Wilson is completing a career-best 60.4 percent of his passes and outside of a three-interception performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, he’s had only two turnovers as the starter. If Wilson can continue playing mistake-free football, the Jets are often going to have chances to win with how their defense is playing.
RB Breece Hall
The Jets fully unleashed Breece Hall before the bye week as the second-year back has totaled 287 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in New York’s last two games (both resulting in wins). Veteran Dalvin Cook was mixing in to begin the season, but now Hall is deservedly getting the majority of the backfield workload.
Hall is averaging 6.8 yards per touch on 42 touches in his last two games, and he now gets to face a Giants defense that is allowing five yards per attempt (tied for third-most in the NFL) and is 30th in run defense DVOA. It could be another productive outing from Hall on Sunday versus the Giants assuming he continues to see the bulk of the backfield touches for the Jets.
OT Mekhi Becton
With injuries hampering the offensive line of the Jets, Mekhi Becton has been asked to move back to left tackle after beginning the season as the starting right tackle. Becton has been solid since moving back to the left side and with Duane Brown still on injured reserve, he’ll continue operating at left tackle.
The Giants aren’t generating much pressure this season, but Wink Martindale is a defensive coordinator who is aggressive when he blitzes. So whenever the Giants elect to scheme up blitzes on Sunday, Becton and the other offensive linemen on the Jets will need to communicate to prevent Wilson from being under duress all game.
DT Quinnen Williams
When looking at the box score stats from Quinnen Williams, you would assume the All-Pro interior defender is having a down-season. Williams has logged 19 tackles, three tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, one interception, and half a sack through the first seven weeks.
But when you look behind the curtain, Williams is still third in total pressures (25) on the Jets and he is seventh in pass-rush win rate among interior defenders in the NFL. Seeing that the offensive line of the Giants is banged up, this could be a week where Williams could see things bounce his way more in the sack column.
LB Quincy Williams
The primary player the Jets need to focus on containing in Week 8 is Saquon Barkley. Even with injuries preventing him from seeing the field as often as he’d like, Barkley is still a dynamic player who is capable of turning any play into points for the Giants.
Quincy Williams has cemented himself as an up-and-coming star at inside linebacker, and he’ll likely be tasked with covering Barkley in certain situations. Williams’ speed should help him stay in front of Barkley and should give the Jets a better chance of slowing down the talented back.
S Jordan Whitehead
Since recording three interceptions in Week 1 versus the Buffalo Bills, Jordan Whitehead has had limited opportunities to make plays. The veteran safety has 31 combined tackles, six pass breakups, three interceptions, and a tackle for loss this season.
This week we could see Whitehead more involved as the Giants are beginning to give Darren Waller, Darius Slayton, and rookie Jalin Hyatt more downfield looks in the passing game. Taylor is averaging eight intended air yards per throw for the Giants, while Jones was producing only 6.3 air yards per attempt as the starter. If Whitehead and the Jets can limit the vertical plays for the Giants, then they’ll be in a prime position to win on Sunday.
