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Jaguars vs. Jets: Taking a hot streak to the Meadowlands

garry smits, florida times-union
·4 min read
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson runs for a touchdown against the Jaguars in last year's meeting in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., a 26-21 Jets victory.
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson runs for a touchdown against the Jaguars in last year's meeting in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., a 26-21 Jets victory.

When: Thursday, 8:15 p.m.

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

TV: WFOX, Amazon Prime.

Radio: 1010-AM, 92.5-FM; Spanish, 930 AM/97.3 FM via Accion; Sirius XM Channel 227.

Live stream: NFL+ Premium (click here for 7-day trial).

Records: Jaguars 6-8, Jets 7-7.

Odds: Pick 'em; over-under 39.5.

Last week: The Jaguars beat Dallas 40-34 in overtime; the Jets lost to Detroit 20-17.

Series history: The Jaguars lead 8-7 overall and are 3-6 on the road.

Last meeting: The Jets won 26-21 on Dec. 26, 2021. The Jags last beat the Jets 29-15 in Jacksonville in 2019.

About the Jaguars

  • Sunday's 40-34 overtime victory over Dallas put the Jaguars fate in their own hands. They will clinch the AFC South by sweeping the Jets, Houston and Tennessee and can still win the division by winning one of the next two games, then beating the Titans at home on Jan. 8.

  • The game will be a rematch of the top-two quarterbacks taken in the 2021 draft. Trevor Lawrence of the Jags has been among the hottest quarterbacks in the league over the last six weeks while Zach Wilson of the Jets regained his starting spot last week. Lawrence completed 27 of 42 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns and Wilson went 18 of 35 for 317 yards and two scores. Both threw one interception.

  • The Jaguars' defense has given up an average of 28.3 points and 403.3 yards of total offense per game in the last six weeks. But the Jags also are plus-6 in turnovers (12-6) and have 12 sacks. After getting only nine turnovers and 32 sacks last season, the Jags have 22 turnovers and 26 sacks through 14 games this season.

About the Jets

  • Former Jaguars running back James Robinson was a healthy scratch for the second week in a row against the Lions and last played on Dec. 4 against Minnesota, with four carries for 10 yards. He has yet to score a rushing touchdown for the Jets since being traded by the Jags after their game against the Giants, and he has 29 carries for 85 yards (2.9 per attempt). He does have one receiving touchdown. Robinson has 425 yards for the season and if he reaches 600, the Jaguars get a fifth-round pick. If he falls below that, its a sixth-round pick.

  • Led by linebackers C.J. Mosley and former Jaguar Quincy Williams, and tackle Quinnen Williams, the Jets are fourth in the NFL in run defense, limiting teams to 111.5 yards per game. Quinnen Williams leads the team with 12 tackles for lost yardage. The Jets are 11th against the pass (193.8 yards per game) but Sauce Gardner is having a fine rookie season with two interceptions and 16 passes defensed.

  • The Jets traded for Robinson after rookie Breece Hall went down for the season with a knee injury. But they're still struggling to run the ball effectively and are 24th in the NFL with 107.6 yards per game. Here's how anemic the Jets are on the ground: when Hall was injured, he led the team with 463 yards. Despite missing the last seven games, he still leads the team.

Key matchup

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne vs. Jets LB Quincy Williams

It didn't work out for Williams in Jacksonville after he was drafted in the third round in 2019. He won a starting job in training camp, made eight starts in all, then spent much of his second season on injured reserve and was cut by Urban Meyer in August of 2021.

Williams has become a solid player for the Jets and enters the game third on the team in tackles with 76, eight for losses.

Jets linebacker Quincy Williams pursues Jaguars tight end James O'Shaughnessy during last year's game in the East Rutherford, N.J.
Jets linebacker Quincy Williams pursues Jaguars tight end James O'Shaughnessy during last year's game in the East Rutherford, N.J.

Etienne posted his fourth 100-yard game of the season against the Cowboys and the Jaguars rushed for 192 yards, second-most in one game this season.

With weather possibly a factor, the Jags may want to give the Jets heavy doses of Etienne, which means a few collisions between the two past Jaguars draftees.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars vs. Jets: Taking a two-game winning streak to the Meadowlans