New York Jets: 5 ways to defeat Philadelphia Eagles

Sep 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker (87) and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) before the start of the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

In this Week 3 match-up the Philadelphia Eagles (0-2) travel to play the undefeated New York Jets (2-0) in a much anticipated football affair. So the Jets have exceeded expectations thus far, no one gave them a chance (except nearly the entire ESPN Monday Night crew apparently…) to beat the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night, but they did it.

Reaching the 2-0 pillar for the first time since 2011, so how do they get to 3-0? Well it won’t be easy, as there is no easy games in the NFL as we saw this past weekend with Jacksonville, Oakland and Cleveland getting upset victories.

But there are 5 absolutely fool proof ways of beating the Eagles on Sunday and here’s my list on what the Jets need to do to remain undefeated.

Next: 5. Fighting them with their own plan

Sep 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets running back Chris Ivory (33) runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. New York Jets defeat the Indianapolis Colts 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

5. Fighting them with their own plan

When the Eagles were working through the NFL off-season a few short months ago they came out with a plan, an ideology on how they wanted to build their team. They wanted to bring in Ryan Mathews and DeMarco Murray and form the best backfield in the NFL and stifle opponents into submission.

Unfortunately through 2 games, the Eagles are averaging 35 yards a game running the football. It’s safe to say things aren’t necessarily going to plan in the city of brotherly love. But that ‘plan’ of theirs sounds pretty interesting: control the clock, pound opponents over the head with it and win football games.

It’s something the Jets have found a lot of success with in their 2-0 campaign thus far, so if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The Jets on the other hand are averaging nearly 135+ yards per game on the ground. With Chris Ivory banged up with a groin injury, utilizing a running back-by-committee approach could be just crazy enough to work.

Using Bilal Powell and activating Zac Stacy for this game might be wise for the Jets and it could lead them to victory on Sunday. If the Jets can come out fast on offense and gash the Eagles’ defense with huge gains on the ground, that’ll open up the rest of the offense and guide the Jets to a 3-0 record while keeping them in first place in the AFC East. Hey, it just might work.

Next: 4. A little bit of Fitzmagic?

Sep 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. New York Jets defeat the Indianapolis Colts 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

4. A little bit of Fitzmagic?

So let’s completely abandon the running game for the Jets as our primary attack and instead reach into Chan Gailey’s bag of tricks and pull out some Fitzmagic as the solution to the Eagles equation. Maybe the Jets should attack through the air as Matt Ryan did in Week 1.

.@JulioJones_11 finished the night with 141 receiving yards… He grabbed 44 of them on this play. #PHIvsATL http://t.co/8hQcdxuhrB

— dari (@77_pyzhenkov) September 15, 2015

Look at that beautiful throw by Matty-Ice; right in the bread basket for Julio Jones. Replace the clean-shaven M. Ryan with the bearded wonder himself and throw Marshall out there and the Jets could share the same results as the Falcons. Some would dispute this claim with the Eric Decker injury possibility and Chris Owusu out for an extended period of time, but this isn’t the Jets of old.

This Jets team has one of the deepest receiving corps in the AFC East and they can utilize some of the younger unproven talent on the roster and thrust them into the spotlight. Guys like Quincy Enunwa, Devin Smith and Jeremy Kerley could be due for a resurgence possibly. You never know, the passing game could be the perfect storm for the Week 3 game-plan for the Jets.

Next: 3. More turnovers

Sep 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) breaks up a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (15) at Lucas Oil Stadium. New York Jets defeat the Indianapolis Colts 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

3. More turnovers

Yeah, one better believe the Jets can beat the Eagles by creating plenty of turnovers. The Jets have 10 takeaways in the first two games of the season topping their best figure that was set back in 1969 when the Jets had 9 takeaways.

To be honest it seems to be a winning formula; Cleveland Browns come to town, they turn the ball over 5 times the Jets dominate. The Jets jump in the car for a road trip to Indy, they take-away the ball 5 times, the Jets dominate and move to 2-0.

Jets travel back home, invite the Eagles over for dinner, and take-away the ball another 5 times and they move to 3-0? Sounds good to me, a very sound strategy; winning the turnover battle usually equates to W’s in the win column more often than not. So another way the Jets could notch that victory is simply forcing Sam Bradford into mistakes by way of their ferocious defense or simply getting that voo-doo doll back out and nabbing it with a pin a few times like they did with Frank Gore by the goal line on Monday night. I mean if it worked once why can’t it work again right?

Next: 2. A Special Teams victory

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Jets kicker Nick Folk (2) is congratulated for kicking a field goal during the second half of a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

2. A Special Teams victory

It’s often said that special teams is a third of the game, but do fans usually share the same merit? Typically special teams is an over-looked part of the game and it certainly has been marginalized by all the new rules to protect players.

From the new PAT rule moving the kick back (seems against safety if you ask me), moving the kick up so more touch-backs and less returns (lame, returning was and is a huge part of the game), and the art of punting always considering the risk vs. reward when deciding whether to go for it or not.

But for the Jets, I said it in the off-season when the Jets were deciding who their kick returner was going to be, it could be a difference maker. With the Jets construction on offense and defense it seemed like the Jets would be in a lot of close games this year and the slightest edge here or there could be the difference. So why not another way to beat the Eagles and crush all their fans’ hearts and dreams then with a last-second walk off victory in pure class and style?

Nick Folk has been a superstar since coming to the Jets with numerous game-winning field goals on his resume, but let’s not stop there. How about Jeremy Kerley with an opportunity laying in his lap with the injuries at receiver makes his presence felt with a punt return touchdown or a kick return touchdown to spark this Jets team who may be in a defensive slug-fest looking for something to spark the team?

It seems probably the least likely of all the options so far, but it is certainly possible that this could be the game for the Jets that comes down to special teams play.

Next: 1. Win with the backup plan

September 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets starting quarterback Geno Smith (7) watches his team in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports

1. Win with the backup plan

Yes I said it (if this happens I might be hurt by a gang of Jets fans looking for me), but this is by far the most ill-thought about option available, the Jets turning back to Geno Smith. We talked about it all off-season that this might be G. Smith’s last opportunity to show the Jets what he has and if he can be the guy.

Then the jaw-breaking situation occurs and the team turns the keys of the franchise to Fitzpatrick. The Jets are 2-0 with Fitz at the helm as the Jets appear to be rolling on all cylinders, but this option must be considered because in the world of the NFL anything can happen.

Just look at Drew Brees (out to start next week), Tony Romo (out for the next 2 months), and Jay Cutler (out for several weeks). All of these quarterbacks went down, why should we think Fitzpatrick is invincible?

Geno Smith cleared for action, could be in uniform this week http://t.co/GIGri8tU29 — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 24, 2015

Wouldn’t that be irony at it’s finest? Smith’s first action back from his injury, his first opportunity at being the backup and he is suddenly thrown into the starting lineup when most thought that his career with the Jets may be over. And in his first attempt at being back he amazes Jets fans with an insurmountable knowledge of the offense and finally proves to Jets fans that he is the franchise quarterback they haven’t had since the late 60’s with Joe Namath.

Having a backup plan is always key no matter what you do. The Jets should feel the same way, fortunately thus far the Jets haven’t had to put their faith in rookie Bryce Petty with him as the primary backup through Smith’s injury. He is a delicate piece of clay that could be the quarterback of the future, best case for him is to sit and wait his turn.

But with Fitzpatrick playing so well, the only chance that Smith gets a opportunity with the Jets (barring a Alex Smith–Colin Kaepernick change mid-season) is a Fitz injury or an implosion of turnovers. Who knows, Jets fans could be seeing Smith again this season if fate has anything to do with it.

Hope for the best expect the worst; the life of a Jets fan.

Next: New York Jets Flashback: Mickey Shuler

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