Week 4 pregame: Jets seek first 3-1 start in nearly a decade

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

What’s Up with the Jets? 🛩️

• The Jets (2-1) will face-off with the Broncos (1-2) at MetLife Stadium this afternoon

• New York is looking for their first 3-1 start to a season since the 2015-16 season

• Rookie OL Olu Fashanu is set to make the first start of his NFL career after Morgan Moses went down with a knee injury in Week 3

• LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball and DL Bruce Hector were elevated for today’s game

• The contract holdout continues for DE Haason Reddick, who is not expected to give in anytime soon (The Athletic)

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Injury Report 🏥

❌ OUT

• OT Morgan Moses (knee)

⏬ DOUBTFUL

• LB C.J. Mosley (toe)

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Today’s Game 🗓

Match-up: Jets (2-1) vs. Broncos (1-2)

Where: MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ

When: 1:00 PM EST

Where to Watch: CBS

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The Odds 🎲

ESPN Analytics: Jets 70.7% chance to win

Line: Jets -7.5

Over/Under: 39.5 points

Postseason Odds: -260
⬆️ from -170 last week

Super Bowl Odds: +1400
⬆️ from +1500 last week

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Our Predictions 🔮

Rich MacLeod

This afternoon, the Jets have the opportunity to do something they haven’t done since the Ryan Fitzpatrick era. Now normally that wouldn’t be something you’d want to shoot for but in this case, it’s actually a positive. With a win today, New York could have their first 3-1 start since the 2015-16 season in which the team went 10-6 (I will, however, spare you of the remaining details). And you know what? I’m confident it’s going to happen.

Despite going into this season with optimism, albeit guarded after what happened last season, I’ve felt a good amount of nerves before each game. I was anxious before the season opener against the 49ers, even more nervous going into a crucial game against the Titans at 0-1 and still pretty nervous to face the Patriots because of the ghosts of the past. This week, though, those nerves finally seem to be gone for the first time in a long time.

That’s because the Jets are starting to prove our sports trauma wrong. It’s still early in this season and there will assuredly be more adversity to come, but this team showed us in their last game that they have ascended to a new tier where they actually beat up on the teams they’re supposed to beat up on. Over their last two games, and more specifically their last six quarters, we’ve seen an offense led by Aaron Rodgers that has shaken the rust off and hit another gear along with a defense that has clamped down and looked a lot more like the unit we expected to see.

Would you believe that your New York Jets rank 5th in the NFL this season in touchdowns? The craziest thing is that they haven’t even reached the peak of their powers yet with Garrett Wilson still finding his chemistry with Rodgers (and going up against the top corners in the league so far) and Mike Williams still playing on a limited pitch count. While Denver’s defense, specifically against the pass, is staunch, I expect this team to continue to improve offensively and do what they’ve gotta do. Even if Wilson gets shut down this week, this team has started to learn how to take advantage of the other match-ups that are opening up because of the attention the defense is giving him. And on defense, I expect the clampdown to keep up against a rookie QB in Bo Nix that has yet to find the end zone with his arm. Jets win this one comfortably and get their revenge (again) against Sean Payton.

Score: Jets 23, Broncos 6

Ryan Marcone

The Broncos are a sturdy defense, particularly against the pass, but the Jets have seen a number of those early this season. I think this could very well be another big Breece Hall / Braelon Allen game, because if there’s a weak spot in the Denver defense it’s against the run. They’re a middle of the pack or in the bottom-third in defensive ranks in terms of yards per rush, rushing yards per game, and rushing attempts per game. There’s not too much to be scared of from the Denver offense, either. It may be a bit low scoring, but give me the Jets as they keep the good times rolling.

Score: Jets 24, Broncos 13

Ras Guevara

Garrett Wilson has heard the disrespect. He read Justin Jefferson’s comments. He’s heard those questioning his status as an elite WR1. Wilson, with 15 receptions on 26 targets for 150 yards and one touchdown through three games, faced L'Jarius Sneed and Christian Gonzalez in back-to-back weeks. This week, he completes the mini-gauntlet of doom against arguably the best cover corner in the NFL, Patrick Surtain II. What better place to prove your worth than against the highest-paid corner in the league?

In their match-up last season, Wilson had Surtain covering him on 20 of his 29 routes, and he only caught one of his four targets in their Week 5 matchup. You can bet he is itching for this rematch. The time is now to announce his elite status to the rest of the league.

Things are looking up for the Jets’ offense as a whole lately, too. Aaron Rodgers is looking spry, and the offensive line is giving him time to operate. The tight ends and running backs are contributing. Mike Williams is shaking off the rust, and Allen Lazard is a different player when he’s in a huddle with Rodgers. The Jets simply have too much firepower for the Broncos to stop. Their defense is up to the task as well against a one-dimensional Denver rushing offense.

Score: Jets 21, Broncos 7

Mark Levine

A Zach Wilson revenge game, this is not. A JFM revenge game? Maybe. While I am praying that AVT stays healthy and avoids yet another injury against the Broncos, I think he and the rest of the offensive line will open up massive holes for Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. Breece is averaging just under 125 yards per game in his two career matchups against Denver. He’s also broken free multiple times in those contests, with big TD runs of 62 yards and 72 yards. The 2024 offensive line is much improved, and Olu Fashanu showed in training camp and the preseason that he should be an adequate replacement for the injured Morgan Moses.

John Franklin-Myers bolsters the Broncos run defense, but they were also dealt a big blow as their leading tackler, linebacker Alex Singleton, was played on injured reserve Wednesday. Patrick Surtain II may be the best corner in the league, and should be shadowing Garrett Wilson all game. Luckily, the Jets have a Hall of Fame quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who knows how to spread the ball around and take what the defense gives him.

Defensively, the Jets have struggled with mobile quarterbacks in the past, and this week go up against another in Bo Nix. Robert Saleh and Jeff Ullrich typically do well to confuse rookie QBs, and should employe a similar strategy to last week where they stack the box and dare Nix to beat them with his arm. Cortland Sutton is a fine receiver, but not a high end number one in most people’s opinions. As long as they keep Nix’s legs in check, the defense should have no trouble keeping points off the board. I think the both of these defenses are very impressive and that should make for a lower scoring game that most people are expecting.

Score: Jets 17, Broncos 7