New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans: Keys to Victory

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Dec 7, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan questions the officials during the game with the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 30, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach

Ken Whisenhunt

on the sidelines in the third quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The Texans beat the Titans 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Two teams playing out the string face each other tomorrow afternoon. At 4 PM, Geno Smith, Chris Ivory, Eric Decker, and the rest of our hapless New York Jets head to Tennessee to take on Jake Locker and the Titans. The two teams have the distinction of being tied for the worst record in the league at 2-11. The Titans are actually playing a worse run of football than the Jets, having lost their last seven games. The Jets, on the other hand, have only lost their last three.

The Jets enter losing last week to the Vikings in overtime, and the Titans’ most recent defeat came at the hands of the Giants by the score of 36-7.

The Jets will be looking to save so face with a good showing tomorrow afternoon. Here are some keys to earning their third victory of the season.

Dec 7, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Jets running back Chris Ivory (33) rushes against the Minnesota Vikings for 1 yard in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

For at least one more week, the Jets can, and should, go out “Rex Ryan” style. Despite the record, the Jets have the second best rushing attack in the league, running it for nearly 150 yards per game. The Titans are last in the week defending the run, giving up over 140 yards per game. It’s a simple formula for success.

Chris Ivory has run the ball for almost 4.5 yards per carry over the season, and in one game against the Titans, ran for over four yards per carry. Chris Johnson is rushing for 4.5 yards per carry, and has to be looking forward to showing his former team that he has something left. This should be a run-heavy day for the New York Jets.

Dec 7, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) breaks away from Minnesota Vikings defensive end

Everson Griffen

(97) during the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Jets 30-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s send a note to Marty Mornhinweg, shall we? In that note, we will remind the Jets coordinator that the play-action pass is allowed. It’s a real strategy, and teams use it all of the time. As we said on the previous page, the Jets should be able to run the football tomorrow. That will open up the defense for the play-action pass. Get Geno Smith into the flow of the game, by running play-action, and getting the short passing game moving. Jace Amaro will be back. Use him, New York Jets. Show us why he is here.

This game really isn’t hard. Run the football, and run play-action off of the running game. The Jets really can do this.

Nov 30, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker (10) during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

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The formula isn’t tough for the Jets defense either. Attack the Titans offense. The Titans are actually near the bottom of the league, lower than 20th, in both rushing and passing offense. Jake Locker has an NFL passer rating of 43.6 when being blitzed, and 66 when under pressure. Get in the face of this kid, stop the run like we know they can, and the Jets have a real shot to win this one.

At least on paper they do.