Two things Jets second-year safety Jamal Adams knows about the NFL, and that rookie QB Sam Darnold is picking up on pretty quick:
1. Nobody cares about your problems.
2. The next biggest game of the season is right around the corner.
"The last two games really don't matter. We've moved on," Adams said about the Jets' two-game losing streak heading into Sunday's road showdown against the Jaguars, an AFC Championship Game participant eight months ago. "This is the NFL. Anybody can beat you and you have to bring your A-game each and every Sunday, Thursday, Monday, whatever day it is."
Adams' confusion can be forgiven, since the Jets were the first NFL team since weekly Thursday night games began in 2012 to play a Monday night opener, a Sunday game, then a Thursday nighter in Week 3. Now it's back to Sundays at 1 p.m. for the next eight games, beginning with the Jaguars, a tough conclusion to their three-on-the-road September before they open their three-game homestand a week from Sunday.
The Green & White will be either 2-2 and on the upbeat to tackle Denver, Indianapolis and Minnesota. Or they will be 1-3 and searching for answers as well as wins at MetLife.
"I think every week is a character test for us, whether we win or lose," head coach Todd Bowles said. "This week is no different."
Here are seven more points of interest for Sunday's game at the stadium formerly known as Jacksonville Municipal, Alltel and EverBank, now called TIAA Bank Field (1 p.m. ET kickoff).
1. Recipe for Road Success?
The Jets lead the Jaguars all-time, 7-6, including the 1998 AFC Divisional Round home win. But success in J-Ville has been hard to come by, with the Jets winning only once in four previous trips to Florida's First Coast. That W came in the most recent game at Jacksonville, in 2012, and it was gritty — by 17-10 with Bilal Powell and Shonn Greene each scoring a TD and powering the 166-yard rushing attack. It was also the Jets' last road win in which they gained more rushing than passing (166-104). Not a recommendation for Darnold to have a 100-yard net passing output but rather for the Jets' ground game to crank it up and take the Jaguars crowd out of the equation.
2. Key Battleground
But which Jets run game will show up? Powell and Isaiah Crowell can be formidable, but they have also been getting hit in their backfield a lot. Powell/Crowell have received first contact behind the LOS on 23 carries so far, and the Jets have been tackled for loss 13 times already — their most in the first three games of a season since at least 2000. On the other hand, Crowell has the NFL's third-longest run in '18, 62 yards at Detroit, while the Jaguars (21st in the NFL in rush yards/game allowed) yielded the longest run, Saquon Barkley's 68-yarder in the opener at the Giants. And don't forget the Jets' 256 rush yards vs. the Jags in the Meadowlands last year.
3. The QBs
Darnold of course is facing Jacksonville for the first time, and if he thought Cleveland was tough sledding, well, the Jaguars are fourth in the NFL in total defense, third in pass defense, tied for second in scoring D (14.7 points/game) and No. 1 in touchdown drive rate (three TDs allowed in 33 drives, 9.1%). Conversely, Blake Bortles' offense has been so-so this season, the Jets beat him at MetLife in 2015 and last year, and he's 16-18 all-time at home. But he seemed a changed QB last season, and as Bowles noted, "He's more comfortable in their offensive scheme. I think his command of the offense is outstanding."
| BORTLES VS. | Record | TDs | INTs | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets | 0-2 | 3 | 3 | 71.0 |
| Rest of NFL | 25-40 | 84 | 46 | 84.8 |
4. Quest for Robby
Darnold's best friend has been WR Quincy Enunwa, the Jets' leader in receptions (17), receiving yards (212) and YAC average (8.6). But where's Robby? "I know what I can do. I can be that spark, that life we need," **WR Robby Anderson told The Athletic**. "I want to get going. I need to get going." Anderson has six catches for 90 yards, the TD vs. the Lions and two lost fumbles. Last season he had 17 catches for 20-plus yards in a 10-game span, the Jets' hottest big-game streak since Wesley Walker. And, just sayin', that streak started around this time of the year. OC Jeremy Bates: "Robby hasn't had that breakout game yet. You never know when it's going to be."
5. On the Defensive
To get after Bortles and blunt the expected return of RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring), the Jets will need to be at their best. At LB, Avery Williamson hasn't been much better in his career than he was at Cleveland (career-record-tying 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss/no gain, 1.5 sacks), and Jordan Jenkins has four strip sacks in his last 20 games, the quickest a Jet's done that since Calvin Pace had four strips in 18 games in 2008-09. The D's health could be at its best all year if S Marcus Maye returns to the field. And if Leonard Williams can put his rare oh-fer stat line vs. the Browns behind him, the defense could make a decisive contribution.
Best Images of the Green & White Taking on Jacksonville
New York Jets inside linebacker Bart Scott, left, intercepts a pass in front of Jacksonville Jaguars fullback Greg B. Jones (33) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
New York Jets Thomas Jones leaps over a pile of Jacksonville Jaguars defenders during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde celebrates as he leaves the field after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC divisional playoff game at Giants Stadium Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999. The Jets won 34-24. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
New York Jets' Calvin Pace (97) and teammate David Harris, blocked from view, tackle Jacksonville Jaguars' Zach Miller (86) during the third quarter of an NFL football game at MetLife Stadium Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Jets Drew Coleman hits Jacksonville Jaguars David Garrard #9 during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets Braylon Edwards #17 in action during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Kevin Elliott (87) falls backward in front of New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie (31) after a reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
New York Jets' Mark Sanchez (6) counts off before a snap during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Jets quarterback Shonn Greene #23 in action during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) is tackled by New York Jets inside linebacker David Harris (52) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets center Nick Mangold (74) and guard Matt Slauson (68) point out assignments at the line of scrimmage as tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson (60) listens during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars, left, line up against the New York Jets for a play during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) is tackled by New York Jets' Jim Leonhard (36), Eric Smith (33), and Antonio Cromartie (31) during the second quarter of an NFL football game at MetLife Stadium Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (29) runs with the ball as Jacksonville Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny (51) and defensive end Jason Babin (58) defend on the play during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The Jacksonville Jaguars prepare to snap the ball against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets running back Shonn Greene (23) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny (51) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jets beat the Jaguars 17-10. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
New York Jets' Mark Sanchez, top left, prepares for a snap during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (29) runs for yardage while being pursued by Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Julian Stanford (57) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jets beat the Jaguars 17-10. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Courtney Greene (36) tackles New York Jets tight end Dustin Keller (81) during the first quarter of an NFL football game at MetLife Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland (85) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Jordie Tripp (58) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (89) is tackled during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Jets' Justin Miller, left, runs the ball during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets running back Shonn Greene (23) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny (51) after a short gain during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (89) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Derek Cox (21) during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Jacksonville Jaguars Kevin Devine (26) is stopped for an eight yard loss by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis (57) during the first quarter of the AFC divisional playoff game at Giants Stadium Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet stretches for extra yardage on an eleven yard pass play as he gets tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Dave Thomas during the AFC divisional playoff game at Giants Stadium Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999. The Jets went on to win 34-24. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
New York Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (11) is brought down by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Mike Harris (20) after making a catch during the second half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. The Jets won 17-10.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New York Jets' Jim Leonhard (36) sacks Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard (9) during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets running back Curtis Martin leaps over lineman Todd Burger (62) for extra yardage against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter of the AFC divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999 at Giants Stadium the East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) is tackled by New York Jets' Bart Scott (57) and Rob Meier (92) during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
6. Grateful ASJ
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins left the Jets for the Jaguars this offseason, so it's not surprising that ASJ said his goal this week, if his core muscle injury doesn't hold him back, is to "try to give 'em hell." But it's said out of respect for how the Jets helped get him to successfully attack his sobriety issues. "Forget all the football stuff," **he told the Florida Times-Union**, "they're just really good people. They really cared about me as a person. That's why I'm here today." Comparison: Jaguars TEs this year: 11 catches, 105 yards (9.5 yards/catch), 1 TD. Jets TEs: 10 catches, 101 yards (10.1), 0 TDs.
7. Frenemy Combatants
In uniform besides Seferian-Jenkins, Jaguars FB Tommy Bohanon and RB Brandon Wilds are former Jets, while T Kelvin Beachum, K Jason Myers and TE Neal Sterling spent time with JAX. On the sidelines, Jacksonville HC Doug Marrone was the Jets' OL coach from 2002-05. And among his staff are LBs coach Mark Collins (Jets OLBs coach, '15-16), assistant DBs coach Joe Danna (Jets DBs coach, '15-16) and assistant OL coach Tony Sparano Jr. (Jets quality control, '14, son of the late coach). Also, OC Nathaniel Hackett is the son of former Jets OC Paul Hackett ('01-04). There will be a lot of handshakes and back pats before and after this one, not so much during.
