NY Jets: Scouting the Houston Texans ahead of Week 12

It wasn’t the result the NY Jets were hoping for, but at least they looked competitive. For the majority of the Jets’ game against the Dolphins, New York played like a competent football team under the leadership of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.

Flacco, who threw two touchdown passes in a losing effort to the Miami Dolphins, was able to adequately establish himself within an offense that has lacked identity at times throughout the early parts of the season.

The Jets were right to start Flacco against a Miami defense that feeds off of the blitz. Flacco quickly countered to his outlet, the majority of time being a flat-route, and was able to drive the Jets down the field to put points on the board.

This is what Robert Saleh wanted when he made the surprising announcement Wednesday afternoon that the Jets were planning to start Joe Flacco over rookie Zach Wilson.

Wilson, who is working his way back from a PCL sprain, looked good in pre-game warmups, and is in-line for his first start since Week 7.

This season was originally intended to evaluate the quarterback position, specifically Zach Wilson, and what he could bring to an organization that has been desperate for competent, consistent quarterback play since Joe Namath.

Joe Douglas drafted Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s played 6 games, and the team is currently unclear in what they have in the former BYU gunslinger.

Fortunately, Wilson is expected to be back under center for their Week 12 bout in Houston.

What are Zach Wilson and the NY Jets up against in Houston?

Speaking of the Texans, they’re 2-8, and currently for third in the AFC South with the Jacksonville Jaguars on their tail. They could use a win against a Jets team that still seems to struggle immensely on the defensive side of the football.

Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor led his squad to an impressive win over the division-leading Tennessee Titans, a team the Jets also were able to overcome back in Week 4.

The Texans aren’t a very good football team, much like the Jets, so it’ll be important to take advantage of their weaknesses on the road.

One of Houston’s weaknesses is their defensive line. The Jets were able to take advantage of a rather weak Miami offensive line by controlling the line of scrimmage throughout the majority of the afternoon.

It’s a shame that the Jets won’t see a familiar face in veteran linebacker Jordan Jenkins, who is out with a PCL strain. As a result, the Texans’ pass rush gets a bit weaker.

Consistently opening up running lanes should be a point of emphasis for the Jets moving forward. With running back Michael Carter out due to injury, it’s even more important for the Jets’ offensive line to improve upon their run blocking to help out Ty Johnson and Tevin Coleman on the ground.

Another point of emphasis that offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur has certainly applied within his play-calling? Feeding rookie wide receiver Elijah Moore the ball.

Moore has come on as one of the more impressive rookies in the league throughout 11 weeks of the season. Eclipsing 400 receiving yards, Moore looks to continue his improving play over the past four weeks with a game to build upon against the Houston Texans.

Moore is one of, if not the Jets’ most explosive player on offense. With Wilson returning, it’s important to continue to get Moore the ball when they need to the most. He has the ability to break a game wide-open, as we saw on his 62-yard scamper for a touchdown last week against Miami.

The Jets are currently +3 underdogs as they travel to Houston to take on the Texans. New York hasn’t been favored in a game since Week 4 of the 2020 season (tidbit provided by Brian Costello of the New York Post).

With Wilson indeed back in the fold, the Jets need to win this game. Not because they’re necessarily more talented than the Texans, but because it’ll do wonders for a quarterback who needs to regain his confidence.

Wilson needs to come out firing against one of the league’s weaker secondary’s, and Mike LaFleur shouldn’t hold back in calling the plays when Wilson is under center.

It’s the Zach Wilson show for the remainder of the season, and Jets fans couldn’t be more excited for his highly-anticipated return.