The New York Jets will go west in Week 10 to visit the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. To help preview the matchup, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com and John Pullano of NYJets.com chatted about the game.
The Cardinals have reeled off 3-straight wins and are averaging 24.6 point*s* per game and 355 yards per game over that stretch. What has been the catalyst for this surge? And how do they keep it up vs. the Jets' stingy D?
DU: The quarterback, Kyler Murray, is playing at a high level, even if his numbers don't always show that. That's where this league begins and ends a lot of times anyway. But the Cardinals are a run-first team and – most of the time – they are pretty good at it. Jets fans probably remember James Conner in Pittsburgh and he was a solid back, but he is playing the best football of his career since he arrived in Arizona and especially once HC Jonathan Gannon arrived. Trey McBride has quietly become one of the best tight ends in the league. And to think, this is all with Marvin Harrison Jr. having some of the normal ups and downs of an NFL rookie at receiver. The Jets have a great defense. But the Chargers, the Dolphins and the Bears aren't bad either, and that's who they have toppled the past three games. The Dolphins had the top pass defense in the league when the Cardinals got there and Kyler had his best game of the season.
In their Week 9 win vs. Houston, 21-13, the Jets defense allowed fewer than 300 total yards and sacked C.J. Stroud 8 times. How do the Jets continue to sustain that level of play? And how do they matchup with Arizona?
JP: To stay at this level, the Jets need to continue to get production from their best, and highest-paid pass rushers – Quinnen Williams and Haason Reddick. In the last 2 games, Williams has had 8 pressures and 3 sacks after accruing just 10 pressures and 2 sacks through the first 7 weeks. And Reddick played well vs. Houston accounting for 0.5 sack, 8 hurries and 4 pressures. The two playing together demand attention from the opposing team's offensive line and creates more one-on-one opportunities for their fellow D-linemen. As for how the Cardinals matchup, containing QB Kyle Murray will be key. Murray is fourth among QBs in rushing yards this season (350) and averages 8.1 yards per attempt. The Jets have had trouble containing the out-of-structure QB runs this season, allowing 14 rushes for 116 yards and a touchdown the past two weeks. If Williams and Reddick can be dominant up front, the Jets are able to contain Murray, the Cardinals' deep stable of RBs – James Connor and Trey Benson – and keep Arizona's generally average offense (No. 15 in points and No. 12 in total yards) in check.
The Cardinals' defense had its best outing of the season last week vs. Chicago*,* allowing 9 points and 241 total yards. What triggered that performance? And where could Arizona have the advantage against New York's offense, led by QB Aaron Rodgers?
DU: The Cardinals were ultra-aggressive against the Bears, because the book on Chicago is that they do not have a good offensive line and of course, they have a rookie quarterback. [Aaron] Rodgers may not have the mobility of Caleb Williams, but you aren't going to catch him unaware. Overall, the Cards' pass rush has not been consistent, and there is no one player who the Jets have to focus upon. But DC Nick Rallis knows he has to scheme things up, and the lack of Rodgers running will help. Starts with stopping Breece Hall and getting a lead.
The Jets' offense found its groove in Week 9 registering 3 touchdowns for 20-plus in the second half. How do the Jets carry that momentum into Week 10?
JP: The Jets sustain their winning ways on offense by protecting QB Aaron Rodgers. That may be an obvious answer, but keeping No. 8 upright has been a catalyst for the Jets' offensive success this season. In the second half vs. the Texans last Thursday, despite the Jets being without 2 starters along the O-line, Houston was held without a sack and the Green & White reeled off 3 consecutive TD drives. Rodgers has been nursing hamstring, knee and ankle injuries all season and has not been the same QB when pressured. Rodgers, according to Pro Football Focus, has 11 TDs and 4 interceptions when kept clean this season and 4 TDs and 3 INTs when under duress. As for this week's matchup, the Cardinals are applying pressure on just 15.3% of drop backs, fifth-lowest in the NFL. And in pass defense, they are 24th in yards allowed (228.6). Arizona's Starling Thomas and Sean Murphy-Bunting are a talented and young CB duo, but will have their hands full with Rodgers and his red-hot receiving duo of Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams (16 receptions for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns last week combined).
Which player on the Jets or Cardinals, despite maybe a slow start, has improved this season and should be part of the opposing team's gameplan as they prepare for Sunday?
DU: Good question. Not sure I have seen the Jets enough to know an under-the-radar name, although the Cardinals have to be mindful that Davante Adams and their old friend Haason Reddick have been around long enough to be settling in. As for the Cardinals, I'm going to go with linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., a former Patriot who didn't have a slow start, but is used by the Cardinals in multiple roles to good effectiveness this season.
JP: With LB C.J. Mosley battling injuries this season, Jamien Sherwood has taken over mic linebacker responsibilities the past few weeks and thrived in the role, leading the team with 80 tackles (50 solo) and 6 tackles for loss. Sherwood flashed his pass rush ability against Houston last week, registering 2 sacks. As the year progresses, Sherwood is sure to become more comfortable in his current role, and because of his importance calling plays, the defense, as a whole, should go as he does.
