Eagles vs Jets: Top 3 keys to victory for New York

Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (11) is tripped up by Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard (97) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

This Sunday, many will look forward to the Eagles vs Jets game. The 2-0 Jets will host the 0-2 Eagles in what seems to be a huge trap game for Gang Green. They are coming off of a surprising 20-7 win over the Colts in which head coach Todd Bowles‘ defense laid the hammer down on Andrew Luck forcing 5 turnovers. The offense did their part too.

Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker put on another show combining for 15 catches, 198 yards and 2 touchdowns. Chris Ivory started the game slow, but finished with 14 carries for 57 yards to put him just over 4 yards per clip. Bilal Powell also contributed with 38 yards on 12 carries to go along with 4 catches for 16 yards.

The Eagles come into town dysfunctional and desperately searching for a win to get them back in the NFC East mix. DeMarco Murray has had pretty much the worst start he could’ve imagined totaling only 11 rushing yards on 21 carries. With Kiko Alonso’s torn ACL and Mychal Kendricks’ tweaked hamstring, Philadelphia’s defense doesn’t look too promising either.

Despite the turmoil on part of the Eagles, this is without a doubt a game that can save their season. The Jets are riding high after a win over the Colts, and they may already be looking ahead to their trip across the pond to face the Dolphins. New York must remained focused and do everything they can to avoid an upset.

Here are the top 3 keys to victory for the Jets.

Next: 3. Control the clock

Sep 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) calls a play against the Cleveland Browns during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

3. Control the clock

The main thing Gang Green has to do on Sunday is control the clock and keep the defense rested. Against Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense, your defense will get gassed pretty quickly. Therefore, Ivory and Powell should receive a heavy workload to send the offense on long, long drives. If Ivory doesn’t suit up, Zac Stacy could also rotate in in certain 3rd down situations. Stacy was a force in the preseason, although he hasn’t received a chance in the regular season to make an impact in the offense. Sunday might be his chance to do so.

A big key in controlling the clock runs through the offensive line. Tackles D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Breno Giacomini need to do a better job in the run blocking department if New York is looking to get chunks of yards drive after drive. In run blocking, on Pro Football Focus, Ferguson has a -3.3 through two weeks while Giacomini has a -4.8. They both had plenty to do with Ivory’s slow start on Monday night, so hopefully Week 3 sparks a turnaround.

Left guard James Carpenter is also struggling as a run blocker with a -2.3 on PFF, but Willie Colon has significantly improved from 2014. The veteran currently has a +1.2 in both run blocking as well as his overall grade. Nick Mangold, of course, has been and will continue to be a beast in the middle. If the offensive line can grind it out in the trenches from start to finish, the Jets could be well on their way to 3-0.

Next: 2. Contain Darren Sproles

Sep 14, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles (43) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Ricardo Allen (37) in the third quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2. Contain Darren Sproles

It may be a thing of the past now, but New York has never fared well against speedy receiving backs. Shane Vereen, Reggie Bush and C.J. Spiller are all backs that have hurt Gang Green in the past whether it was through the air or on the ground. Darren Sproles has potential to be that same kind of threat. Blitzes and crazy looks are sometimes self-inflicted harm against a player like him, simply because a pass in the flats can turn into an 80-yard catch and run.

Week 1, the Jets were able to do a great job on Browns’ running back Duke Johnson holding him to 22 yards on 7 carries. Johnson was a non-factor in the passing game too, not even registering a target. However, containing Sproles will be a much bigger test for Bowles. If Kelly decides to feed him the ball often in this matchup, the front-seven might have to perform even better than they did Monday night just to make sure he doesn’t bust one loose.

Sproles is on the field on many 3rd downs, therefore New York should only blitz on 1st and 2nd so they can contain the screen or check-down on 3rd. In just 40 snaps on the young season, Sproles ranks tied for 7th amongst 58 running backs who have received at least 25% of snaps on PFF. As a result, Demario Davis and David Harris need to always have an eye on him throughout the game. A little open space is all he needs to gash a defense for a long touchdown.

Next: 1. Win the battle on special teams

Dec 14, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (11) rushes against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at LP Field. Jets won 16-11. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

1. Win the battle on special teams

The Eagles’ special teams is one of the most deadly units in all of football. Last season, they averaged 27.3 yards per kick return to go along with 2 touchdowns. On punts, they averaged 13 yards per return and scored another 2 touchdowns. Sproles and wide receiver Josh Huff are the guys that make Philadelphia’s special teams as good as it is. Both have 4.4 speed and elusiveness to hurt you when you kick it deep.

As for New York, their special teams unit needs to play close to perfect. According to Gang Green Nation, Bowles announced wideout Chris Owusu is expected to miss possibly 2 weeks with a knee injury he suffered in the Monday night game in Indianapolis. This leaves kick return duties to the likes of Jeremy Kerley, Powell, and Stacy. Bowles also said he would consider bringing Walter Powell off the practice squad to return kicks until Owusu is healthy. Regardless of who it is, the Jets must find production in the return game on Sunday.

Kicker Nick Folk cannot afford to miss another field goal either. The Eagles are a team that can obviously march down the field very quickly, so giving them a short field would make life very hard on the defense. Although the Jets only allowed 7 points to Luck and the Colts, it probably will not happen against Kelly’s offense. Gang Green needs to build a lead as quick as possible this week, because Philadelphia can tack on points in a hurry. That all starts with executing on special teams.

Next: New York Jets: Player news and notes from Todd Bowles

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