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Following a dramatic victory over the Buffalo Bills, the Jacksonville Jaguars entered their bye week with a 2-5 record and aren't yet out of the weak AFC South. A trip to MetLife Stadium looms large as they try to avoid falling to 2-6 and potentially last in the division.
As for the New York Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick will get the start despite having torn ligaments in his left thumb. He's not 100-percent healthy, but Todd Bowles and the coaching staff believe a one-handed Fitzpatrick is better than a two-handed Geno Smith.
Here are three keys to the game for both the Jaguars and the Jets.
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1. Lean on Allen Hurns
With Allen Robinson likely to be shadowed by Darrelle Revis, Blake Bortles will need to look to his second-favorite target in Hurns. It's a strategy that worked for the Raiders last week, as Michael Crabtree had a big game with Amari Cooper largely shut down by Revis. Hurns, in his second year, is quietly on pace to record over 1,000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. Against a Jets defense that gives up an average of just 19.9 points per game, the Jaguars will need to find offensive production somewhere. Hurns can provide it.
2. Shut down the run
The Jets, led by running back Chris Ivory, rank seventh in the NFL in rushing. Jacksonville's run defense, led by middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, ranks 14th and is one of the team's strengths. With Ivory coming off a 15-carry, 17-yard performance against the Raiders, the Jaguars should key on stopping the run and force an injured Ryan Fitzpatrick to try to beat them with his arm.
3. Keep blitzing
After failing to generate a consistent four-man pass rush for much of the season, Gus Bradley elected to utilize the blitz in Jacksonville's win over the Bills. While the team did give up a number of completions, the extra pressure also proved effective, generating a touchdown on Aaron Colvin's strip-sack of EJ Manuel. Until the Jaguars can figure out another way to get to the quarterback, they'll need to continue relying on the blitz. This week, the potential to force Fitzpatrick into making a mistake warrants bringing the blitz again.
1. Take pressure off Ryan Fitzpatrick with Chris Ivory
Fitzpatrick may be the starter for this one, but he's certainly not 100-percent healthy. He still has torn ligaments in his left thumb and will be in pain, so it will be up to Ivory to take pressure off of his quarterback. If the Jets can run the ball with success early, it should allow Fitzpatrick to get accustom to not using his left hand as much as he has in the past. The less he has to throw the ball, the better for the Jets.
2. Make tackles in the open field
No team has missed more tackles (19) in a single game this season than the Jets did on Sunday. It doomed the defense against the Raiders as Derek Carr and his receivers torched the Jets with a lot of yards after the catch in a 34-20 win. The Jaguars have playmakers on the outside in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns that can certainly make defenders miss in the open field. The Jets have to avoid allowing big plays by not missing tackles.
3. Pressure Blake Bortles without blitzing
There's no question Todd Bowles likes blitzing the quarterback, but it'd be a huge plus if the Jets can get pressure on Bortles without sending extra rushers. The Jets tout one of the best defenses in the league, but they only have 11 sacks this season. Blitzing hasn't been effective in generating sacks, and while the Jets' secondary can match up man-to-man when they blitz, rushing four will help coverage greatly.
