An inside look at Sunday’s Jets-Giants NFL Week 8 matchup at MetLife Stadium:
Marquee matchup
Jets defensive line vs. Giants offensive line
OK, “marquee” might not be the most accurate description here. How about “mismatch?’’ Anyone not living under a rock knows about the Giants’ issues, based on poor play and rotten health. Alas, Andrew Thomas is not coming back this week to save the day. It looks as if rookie John Michael Schmitz can return at center, which would allow Ben Bredeson to slide over to guard.
Coach Brian Daboll characterized the Jets’ defensive front as a rotation of the front four “like hockey shifts.’’ Quinton Jefferson (three sacks), Jermaine Johnson (two sacks) and Quinnen Williams will provide another pieced-together Giants line with repeated and pronounced challenges.
Paul’s pick
The Jets do not give up much on defense. If the Giants’ defense of the past two weeks shows up again on Sunday, this will be a low-scoring affair. Punters, loosen up those legs. There is always attention on the quarterbacks, but this game features backups Tyrod Taylor and Zach Wilson, so it could be decided on whichever running back, Saquon Barkley or Breece Hall, has the better day.
— Paul Schwartz
Jets 19, Giants 13
Costello’s Call
The crosstown rivals are similar. Both have defenses that are playing well and offenses that are struggling. This could be a low-scoring, ugly game on a rainy day. I think the Jets offense is slightly better than the Giants offense, and the Jets find a way to win this game, aided by a defensive score.
— Brian Costello
Jets 23, Giants 17
Four downs
Big guy praise: In early May, Dexter Lawrence signed a four-year contract extension worth $90 million, linking him to the Giants for the foreseeable future. Two months later, the Jets gave Quinnen Williams a four-year extension worth $96 million. Another defensive lineman, Leonard Williams, is in the final season of a three-year, $63 million deal. Big bucks all around. Leonard Williams was in his fifth year with the Jets in 2019 when Quinnen Williams arrived as the No. 3-overall pick.
“When I was drafted to the Jets, he taught me so much,’’ Quinnen said of Leonard. “Coming in as a rookie, he was a guy who had already been to the Pro Bowl. Taught me different moves, taught me different things on the field and off the field. He was an amazing leader and an amazing contributor to the player I am to this day. Great guy, great friend, great teammate.”
Shake it off: The Jets average 18.8 points a game, 22nd in the league in scoring. The Giants are dead last at an embarrassing 12.1 points a game. If form holds, points will be scarce. That means one slip-up with ball security — it will be wet out there — could turn the tide. The Jets are tied for third in the NFL with 13 takeaways, and have harassed and turned over Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. “Yeah, they’re excellent at it,’’ Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “They take the ball away.’’ In two starts, Tyrod Taylor has not committed a turnover.
Middle men: It is easy to make a case for the Jets having one of, if not the NFL’s best inside linebacker tandem in Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley. Pro Football Focus grades Mosely at No. 4 and Williams at No. 7 among players at their position. The Giants are building something solid in this spot as well. Bobby Okereke has four consecutive games with at least 10 tackles and one pass defensed, and is justifying his free-agency price tag. Micah McFadden is developing into a strong tag-team partner. His PFF grade of 89.8 for his work against the Commanders was tops among all linebackers in Week 7.
Off to the races: The Giants called for Jalin Hyatt to put a double-move on Sauce Gardner early in the preseason game this past summer. The pass from Taylor did not hit the mark, but Hyatt did get some separation from one of the league’s top cover corners.
“I thought it would be a good first play,’’ Daboll said recently of that particular call. It was fun. Was it also meaningful? Perhaps Daboll wanted to get that play on tape for the Jets to look at and consider as they prepared for the regular-season encounter. Hyatt has been coming on with increased opportunity and his speed is legit. Gardner, the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, is not quite playing at that level in year No. 2, but beating him is a rare feat.
