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: Will the Jets score three-plus offensive touchdowns for the fourth consecutive game?
EA: The Broncos have the NFL's No. 6-ranked scoring defense (15.3 pts/g). They yielded three offensive TDs to the Seahawks in a 26-20 Week 1 loss before limiting the Steelers and then Buccaneers to one offensive TD. After the Broncos sacked Baker Mayfield 7 times in a 26-7 win, the Tampa QB said: "We got our asses kicked." The Jets did some butt-kicking themselves against the Patriots as the offense rolled up 27 first downs and 400 total yards in a dominant 24-3 victory. The unit has gotten better each week and the third down (No. 1, 56.8%) and red zone (No. 3, 75%) numbers are impressive. I'm highlighting the Jets run game and turnovers heading into Sunday's battle. While Denver is third against the pass (133 yds/g), they're giving up 126 yards a contest on the ground. Tampa Bay RB Bucky Irving averaged 7.8 yards a pop against the Broncos and Breece Hall torched Denver last season in Week 5 with 177 rush yards. Both teams can rush the passer, but the Jets are more balanced and the Broncos have 6 giveaways in two games. Takeaways mean short fields for Aaron Rodgers, so I think the Jets will make it 3-plus+ offensive TDs for a fourth consecutive game.
EG: I'm not betting against Aaron Rodgers and I like the way the Jets match up against the Broncos. Denver has the NFL's No. 3 defense, but the Jets ' offense has progressed and still hasn't hit its stride. If the Green & White can climb out to a lead like they did against the Patriots in Week 3, it'll put the Broncos in a tough spot. Starting rookie QB Bo Nix has yet to throw for a touchdown (he has 2 rushing scores) and he's been picked off 4 times. Nix, the No. 12 overall selection, also leads the team with 107 rushing yards. If the Jets are ahead and force Nix to pass, I could see the Rodgers & Co. having more opportunities to score and, as a result, find the end zone at least three times for a fourth consecutive game. Denver's defense is a talented group that had 7 sacks last Sunday, but even the NFL's best defenses can hold up for only so long when the offense plays from behind and becomes one dimensional.
RL: Who among us would say that Aaron Rodgers and the Jets' offense won't trey, trey, trey again? No. 8 has already done it twice (after Tyrod Taylor directed the third TD drive in the opener). He's growing increasingly comfortable with his WR options in Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Mike Williams. TEs Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert made big grabs vs. New England; and Conk wants a touch to end his vexing 29-game TD-less streak. RBs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen have already combined for 3 rushing and 2 receiving scores. But for the real reason I like the Jets to score 3-plus offensive TDs again is Rodgers. As Green Bay's starter from 2008-22, A-Rod logged 242 starts, including playoffs, and notched 152 trifecta games, a 63% rate. And in his last two MVP seasons, he was unconscious with 17 games of 3-plusoffensive TDs in his 18 starts in '20 and followed that with 12 of 17 in '21. So no offense to Denver's '24 defense, which gave up a little less than 3 TDs of any kind in its first 3 games (19.4 points/game allowed), but I like the Jets' chances for 3 more offensive 7s Sunday.
CH: Yes, the Jets will score 3 or more offensive touchdowns for the fourth consecutive game. The Broncos' defense currently ranks third in the league in total yards allowed per game and second in passing yards per game because of their defensive line and secondary. Denver's secondary has All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II while their D-line is ranked fourth in sacks per pass attempts (14.1%) and includes a familiar face in John Franklin-Myers. So, while the passing game may be a challenge for the Jets, I think the rushing game is where they will find success. The Broncos defense is ranked 21st in the league in rush yards allowed per game. RB Breece Hall has scored 1-plus scrimmage touchdown in six straight games while RB Braelon Allen ranks first in rush grades (90.0) among RBs who have taken 20% of the snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Between Hall and Allen, I think the "Killer B's" will create a lot of success for the Jets on the ground and combine for 3 or more TDs.
JP: Yes. The Jets offense has been getting progressively better since Week 1 and Broncos' weaknesses make them an ideal opponent for the Green & White to keep the party going. In Week 3 versus the Patriots, the Jets won the time of possession 40:04 to 19:56 and QB Aaron Rodgers, when blitzed, completed 11-of-15 passes for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. Under DC Vance Joseph, in his second season, the Broncos have been blitzing on 45.7% of opponents dropbacks, the highest rate in the NFL by nearly 7%. Since 2019, Rodgers, when blitzed, has completed 71% of his passes for 5,658 yards, 54 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, making this potentially a bad matchup for Denver. In addition, the Broncos offense has struggled to sustain drives, ranking 15th in time of possession. The Jets have gradually gotten better at putting together long drives since being dominated 38:40 to 21:20 in time of possession in the opener versus the 49ers. If the Jets are able to continue their success against the blitz and keep moving the ball, they will come away with at least 3-trips to the endzone on offense on Sunday.
