Week 2 pregame: Time to get in the win column

Everything you need to know ahead of today's game between the Jets and Titans. Plus, weekly odds and game predictions!

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Sep 15, 2024

What’s Up with the Jets? 🛩️

The Jets (0-1) will seek their first win of the season as they face the Titans (0-1) in Tennessee this afternoon
CB D.J. Reed was surprisingly listed as questionable for the game today after dealing with an ankle injury
If Reed is able to go today, CB Brandon Echols would likely start in his place
CB Michael Carter II was a full participant in practice on Friday and was not listed on the injury report after exiting last Monday’s game with an ankle injury
DL Javon Kinlaw was a partial participant in practice on Friday due to personal reasons and will be active for today’s game
DE Haason Reddick will be inactive as his holdout for a contract extension continues into Week 2

Injury Report 🏥

❔ QUESTIONABLE

CB D.J. Reed (ankle)
DL Micheal Clemons (triceps)

Today’s Game 🗓

Match-up: Jets (0-1) at Titans (0-1)

Where: Nissan Stadium – Nashville, TN

When: 1:00 PM EDT

Where to Watch: CBS

The Odds 🎲

ESPN Analytics: Jets 57% chance to win

Line: Jets -3.5

Over/Under: 41.5 points

Postseason Odds: -175
🔁 unchanged from last week

Super Bowl Odds: +1500
⬆️ from +1900 last week

Our Predictions 🔮

Rich MacLeod

Starting your season off, after essentially two years of hype, with a blowout loss on a nationally televised stage definitely isn’t something to inspire confidence, but as the emotions have worn off over the week I’ve tried to keep things in perspective. The Jets played essentially no one in preseason, after going all of last year without Aaron Rodgers, and went up against one of if not the best team in the NFL.

It obviously didn’t go well, and there will come a time where the Jets do need to be competitive against the better teams in this league, but that’s a conversation for a different day. Today, they are facing a far inferior team in the Titans. While I do think Tennessee has the ability to give the Jets some trouble, specifically in the run game (something the defense really struggled with last week), this is a game that a team with greater aspirations needs to win.

I think this will be tighter than we all prefer early, with the Jets pulling away late. And if that’s the case, we should hopefully be able to avoid looking at those yearly stats about how rarely teams make the playoffs after starting 0-2.

Score: Jets 27, Titans 14

Ryan Marcone

As the ONLY writer for Just Jets that predicted a loss in the season opener, I am not overreacting to a game one letdown performance in a far from optimal spot for this team. The Jets will be challenged to correct their run defense that got shredded in week one against new Titans running back Tony Pollard, who averaged 5.1 ypc for 82 yards and a touchdown against the Bears, but I think the run defense will be improved after a week of emphasis and the benefit of not facing a Kyle Shanahan run scheme. This should be a get-right game for the defense against Titans QB Will Levis, who may stink but can hurt you with his legs if you're not careful.

The offense will continue to gel, and improve on what honestly wasn't a bad opening performance from them given how little they had the ball (just please let Aaron Rodgers throw more on early downs... please). The season gets started in earnest for the Jets in what will be an impressive win that, at least for one week, brings down the blood pressure of the New York Jets faithful. Smash that betting line of Jets -3.5, a bad overreaction from Vegas to the Week 1 loss.

Score: Jets 31 - Titans 13

Ras Guevara

The running game on both sides of the ball will be key for the Jets heading into Week 2. New York’s missed tackles continue to be a problem – They missed 13 tackles against the 49ers' rookie running back Jordan Mason, eight more than any other ball carrier in the league in Week 1. The Titans no longer employ Derrick Henry in the backfield; instead, Tony Pollard takes the handoffs. Will Levis is also a threat to run, but with his limited arm abilities. Look for the Jets to stack the box and attempt to make the Titans one-dimensional, as well as a big rebound for Gang Green’s defense against the Titans.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, New York was one of two teams to average negative yards per rush in Week 1. Breece Hall was hit behind the line of scrimmage on more than half of his carries and his 18.8% success rate was the third-lowest of his career when getting at least 10 carries. Hall has rushed for over 75 yards just five times over the past two seasons. That is simply not good enough. If the Jets get the run game going, it should open up the passing game for Rodgers and Garrett Wilson. We match up very well against the Titans and should dominate all three levels. However, “should” is not a guarantee. Still, I think the talent level will shine, and lead to a comfortable win.

Score: Jets 35, Titans 14

Mark Levine

A healthy dose of a (hopefully) productive Breece Hall will once again be the key to getting this offense going. If he can average more than his 3.4 YPC in Week 1, it will open things up greatly. If not, they need to look to get more touches for Braelon Allen, who took his only carry for eight yards in garbage time. In the passing game, Tennessee made some big upgrades in the secondary, trading for L'Jarius Sneed and signing Chidobe Awuzie and Quandre Diggs. Garrett Wilson will get his, but Rodgers needs to do a better job of spreading the ball around and getting Tyler Conklin more involved than just the one target he saw.

On the defensive side of the ball, I look for the Jets to have a bounce back week. New York completely forgot how to tackle and failed to stop the 49ers run game without Christian McCaffrey. The Titans meanwhile averaged 5.4 yards per rush so shutting down Pollard will be paramount. According to PFF, the Titans O-Line did give up 16 total pressures in Week 1 which forced Levis into some bad decisions. I see Jermaine Johnson and Quinnen Williams getting to the QB often and replicating the ability that saw them elected to the Pro Bowl last season.

Score: Jets 24, Titans 13