Jets v. Panthers Pregame

The Jets enter this game with a 4-6 record and very low playoff expectations.  Star safety Kerry Rhodes has been benched and Mark Sanchez has shown some serious question marks with poor decision making and turnovers.  However, this week also brings another opportunity for the Jets to pull themselves out of their recent string of losses and finally get a win against a solid opponent.  The playoffs are a long shot for the Jets at this point but the development of the team is at stake in the next few weeks.


What to watch for....

• Will the crowd even show up for this game?  With the Jets on their current losing streak I would be surprised to see much of an effort by the crowd to get into this game.  This should take away some of the home field advantage that the Jets have enjoyed for the first half of the year.  The fans are getting tired of this team quickly and the Jets need to do something to energize the fans of this franchise.

• How will Kerry Rhodes handle his benching?  Rhodes was benched earlier this week by head coach Rex Ryan which is a move that fans have been screaming for all year.  Rhodes has been extremely unproductive since signing his huge deal a year ago.  He hasn't made any big plays this year and the fans and the coaching staff have seen a need for a change.  Rhodes needs to take this benching like a man and keep working hard and if he does that he will see the field again soon.

• The battle of Darelle Revis vs. Steve Smith should be an extremely interesting one.  Revis has managed to shut down top receivers such as Andre Johnson, Randy Moss (twice), and Terrell Owens but this could be his toughest test.  Smith is fast, small, and has great hands and he could prove to be a challenge for Revis is Delhomme is able to throw an accurate pass.

Who to watch for....

• Braylon Edwards has been quiet for a few weeks and will need to step up big and make some catches.  He had a key drop on a third down last week on a ball that hit him in the chest and that cannot happen if he hopes to stay with this franchise past next year.  He needs to start establishing himself as Mark Sanchez's top target over the next couple of weeks.

• Eric Smith is going to get another chance to prove himself as a starting safety filling in for the benched Kerry Rhodes.  Despite getting a lot of starting playing time under the Eric Mangini regime Smith has seen his starting job taken away as he has taken on a hybrid look in the Ryan defense.  This week he will get his chance to start and I am interested if his success in the hybrid role will carry over to the starting safety job. 

• Dustin Keller is going to have to play an increased role in the offense for Mark Sanchez.  Keller has seen his role increased in the last couple of weeks and he will have to continue his stellar play in order to give Sanchez a big target down the middle of the field.

Game Thoughts:

I think the Jets should win this game in a tight one.  If Thomas Jones can be established early and Sanchez comes out sharp this could be a blowout as the Jets defense should be able to shut down Jake Delhomme and the Panthers offense.  However, with Sanchez's recent play there is no doubt that if he starts turning the ball over this one should be extremely close.  The Jets on defense will have to shut down the running game and make Delhomme beat them.

Game Prediction:

Jets- 21
Pathers- 17