Throughout the season, NewYorkJets.com will provide a stock report focusing on the Jets' upcoming matchup.
This week's report features players and/or themes that are trending before the Green & White take on the Denver Broncos Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
📈 Jets Red Zone Offense
The Jets offense has been hot in the red zone to start the 2024 season. Its converted 75% of its trips inside the 20-yard line, tied for the third-best mark in the NFL. The offense is also one of five teams that's found paydirt on all of its goal-to-go possessions. Last season, the Jets finished last in the NFL in red zone efficiency (32.4%).
"Obviously the playcalling changes once you get in that area of the field and then it's just about execution," rookie RB Braelon Allen said. "Obviously having A-Rod (Aaron Rodgers) is a big part of being able to execute, but everybody has to do their job. The game doesn't necessarily change. I think we're just all executing when the times called.
"When in the high red zone, it doesn't feel much different, but once you get down inside the 10-yard line, the 5, that's when it's like there's no more looking for the big play since you can't go too far. Everything is downhill in terms of running the ball. Every yard is magnified, so try to get vertical."
See the Jets back on the practice field to kickoff practice for Week 4 against the Denver Broncos.
📈 Broncos QB Bo Nix
The No. 12 overall pick in April, Nix put together his most complete game in Week 3. He completed 25 of his 36 passes (69.4%), threw for 216 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also ran for 47 yards including a 3-yard touchdown. Nix completed passes to nine players and targeted WR Courtland Sutton, who led Denver with 7 receptions for 68 yards, a team-high 11 times.
"He's a very talented young man," HC Robert Saleh said of the rookie signal-caller. "Very quick decision maker, great with his feet. They've done a really nice job. I feel like he found a little confidence against Tampa and you can see him evolving from the Seattle game to Pittsburgh to last week, in terms of what he can and can't do in the league. He's a quick learner and very athletic. Very gritty, tough kid, but he's got a good future ahead of him."
📉 Jets Penalties
For a second straight week, penalties were an issue for the Green & White. The team was penalized 8 times for 106 yards in its 24-3 win over the Patriots in Week 3. New England's lone scoring possession came in large part because of a pair of infractions -- a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Jamien Sherwood and a 34-yard pass-interference call on CB D.J. Reed that put the Pats on the Jets 25-yard line.
"It's still early in the season," LB Quincy Williams said. "It's one of those things where you got a lot of guys who didn't play in the preseason, so just getting the fundamentals down when you're getting tired and stuff like that. Just trust the process. We talk about the penalties, we bring awareness to that. After that, it's just getting the game down pat."
📉 Broncos Rushing Defense
The Broncos have the NFL's No. 3 overall defense through three weeks, but it's been susceptible to allowing yards on the ground. Bucs rookie RB Bucky Irving ran for 70 yards on 9 carries last week (7.8 avg). In Week 2, the Steelers ran for 141 yards and the Seahawks had 146 in Week 1. Denver ranks No. 21 in the NFL in rush defense, allowing an average of 126 yards per game and lost LB Alex Singleton, the Broncos' leading tackler, to an ACL injury.
"Their linebackers are big guys in the middle of the field and they have great guys on the edge," RB Braelon Allen said. "It'll be a good test."
