A look ahead to the NFL Week 6 Jets vs. Broncos matchup in London:
Key matchup
Jets WR Garrett Wilson vs. Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II
It’s clear the Jets’ offense heavily relies on Wilson, who has been targeted 48 times this season—20 more than the next closest player, Mason Taylor. Josh Reynolds, in comparison, has only nine targets.
Even with defenses honing in on him, Wilson still manages to produce impressive numbers.
He has 33 catches for 382 yards and four touchdowns this season, and now he’s up against last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Surtain.
The Jets and Broncos have faced off every year since Wilson joined the league, but his stats in those games have been modest—four catches for 24 yards in 2022, three catches for 54 yards in 2023, and five catches for 41 yards last year.
“I think he’s a great player,” Wilson noted recently. “Every time I play against him, it feels like there’s a mini-game happening within the game. What I admire most about him is his footwork. He really knows how to use his feet well, which you don’t see as often nowadays. Some players tend to cut corners, but he plays true defense. It’s quite impressive to watch.”
Four downs
Run game struggles: The Jets’ offensive line had a rough outing last week against the Cowboys, allowing five sacks and consistently pressuring quarterback Justin Fields.
Now, they face a Broncos defense that leads the NFL with 21 sacks this season.
Outside linebacker Nick Bonitto has recorded seven sacks, tying him for the league lead, alongside Giants OLB Brian Burns.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn commented, “They have two elite edge players. Their interior line also performs well. When you pair that with corners who can go man-to-man, the quarterback tends to hold onto the ball longer. They’ve adjusted their defensive style to be quite aggressive, and our offensive line definitely has their work cut out for them.”
Defensive challenges: The Jets’ defense is facing several hurdles, primarily stemming from an inability to pressure the quarterback effectively.
With only seven sacks this season—four of which came in the opening game against the Steelers—they need to step it up, especially after only managing a single sack last week against Dallas, which was somewhat lucky due to Dak Prescott slipping.
Creating pressure on Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will be vital for the Jets to force turnovers and get off the field quicker.
“It starts with our mindset,” said defensive line coach Eric Washington. “We need to be fast, aggressive, and in sync. That’s the key.”
Looking back: The Jets return to London after losing to the Vikings here last season, which was particularly memorable due to the firing of manager Robert Saleh just days later. That decision was made in hopes of igniting a spark within the team. However, they struggled afterward, winning only three of 17 games since that change.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell highlighted that during Saleh’s tenure, the Jets boasted one of the league’s best defenses in terms of points and efficiency per drive, but they now rank as one of the worst since his departure.
Offensive issues: The Jets struggled to find the end zone early in games, lacking a first-half touchdown for the last four matches. Their scoring in the last two games primarily relied on field goals and turnovers.
“Our aim is to score a touchdown every drive,” offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand remarked. “We’re working toward that, focusing on the little details that hinder our progress.”
Predictions
Realistically, it’s tough to envision the Jets emerging victorious in this game, but the unpredictable nature of the NFL makes anything possible. I’m sensing this might be a trap game for the Broncos after their win against the Eagles last week. The Jets could pull off a surprising victory in London.
Jets 24, Broncos 15
