Throughout the regular season, NewYorkJets.com reporters Eric Allen, Ethan Greenberg, Randy Lange, Caroline Hendershot and John Pullano will give their responses to a series of questions regarding this year's Jets.
Today's question: What is the most important matchup in Jets-Seahawks?
EA: Heading into Week 13 action, Pro Football Focus has the Seattle offensive line ranked No. 27. The 'Hawks have a talented RB combination with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, but they haven't found much daylight on the ground. Former Jets QB Geno Smith has been getting it done through the air, but he's also been intercepted an NFL-high 12 times and he's been sacked 37 times. Over the last three games, Smith has been sacked 16 times. The Jets defensive line must establish dominance in this game from the start. Over the Jets past four games, their 13 sacks are tied for third-most in the NFL and their 37 sacks this season rank No. 3. After holding Colts RB Jonathan Taylor to 57 yards on 24 carries (2.4 per) before the bye, the Jets need a similar effort against Walker. Smith will get his yards, but the Jets D-line must live in the offensive backfield and force turnovers. It all starts up front.
EG: I'm looking at the Jets O-line and the Seahawks D-line. Whether Breece Hall, who did not practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday, plays Sunday or not, if the Jets can win on the ground they'll find themselves in a better position to win the game. Seattle's defense allows an average of 130.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 23 in the NFL. If the Green & White O-line can help establish the run, it'll take attention away from the Seahawks talented secondary that includes CB Tariq Woolen, CB Devon Witherspoon and S Coby Bryant, who had a pick-six last week in their win over the Cardinals. The 'Hawks pass defense ranks middle of the pack -- No. 16 in the league at 214.4 yards per game -and their 28 sacks this season are tied for No. 17 in the NFL. If the Jets can dictate the pace of the game up front on offense, they should be in a position to have a chance to win in Week 13.
RL: I like Jets corners Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II against former Jets QB Geno Smith trying to hook up with Seattle's top two WRs, DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the matchup to watch. No secret that Jets DBs haven't had a cornucopia of picks this season — two for the season, both by Brandin Echols, none in the past six games, and not even a PD by a DB the past two games vs. Arizona and Indianapolis. INTs, though, while welcome, aren't as important for the Jets as keeping a collective lid on Metcalf and Smith-Njigba, who are one of only two wideout combos in the NFL through 12 weeks with 650-plus receiving yards each. Focusing a little closer, Smith-Njigba leads the league from the slot with 53 catches and 619 yards, while the Jets defense has allowed 62 slot receptions, fourth-fewest in the league. Slot CB Carter and the Jets corners will have a lot to say about how much Aaron Rodgers and the offense get the ball and how likely a skid-snapping victory is on Sunday afternoon at MetLife.
CH: Special teams. The Seahawks have struggled this season and has lost 3 fumbles on kick returns. They also had a field goal blocked and returned for a TD. The Seahawks rank first defensively in kickoff return average at 23.5 yards while the Jets rank sixth with an average of 25.5 yards. Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said the Jets need to improve in their return game "whether it's pressuring punters or getting [returner] Xavier Gipson going."
JP: The Jets CB trio of Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed and nickel Michael Carter II vs. Seattle's standout WR trio of D.K. Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett. Despite a few up-and-down performances by the Jets defense the past month, the sticky coverage by their CBs in the back end remains its calling card. The secondary ranks second in passing yards allowed (174.9 per game) and second in passing touchdowns allowed (8) despite Gardner, Reed and Carter II combining to miss 5 games this season. With that trio at full strength, the Green & White secondary is arguably the best in the league, but it will have its hands full with Metcalf, Smith-Njigba and Lockett, who have combined for 1,947 yards this season and 9 touchdowns despite also missing 2 games from Metcalf. The Seahawks have leaned on the pass game early this season as they rank No. 5 in pass attempts and No. 2 in passing yards. If the Jets can take away QB Geno Smith's favorite targets, it could give them an edge in Sunday's game.
