Scouting the NY Jets Week 14 opponent: New Orleans Saints

Two in a row may have been too much to ask. The NY Jets went on to fall victim to Minshew Mania’s attack of Gang Green’s defense as the Philadelphia Eagles went on to defeat the Jets by a score of 33-18.

By no means was it a pretty game for New York, most notably for their defense. The Jets, as we’ve said time and time again throughout this season, need more talent on the defensive side of the football to stay competitive in games.

The Jets were able to string together some pretty efficient offensive drives against a stingy Eagles defense. On the first play of the game, Braxton Berrios returned the kickoff to around the opponent's 20-yard-line.

From there, the Jets were able to strike for the first score of the game with a nifty touchdown pass to wide receiver Elijah Moore, delivered by quarterback Zach Wilson.

The Jets scored three offensive touchdowns on their first three possessions. This isn’t a sentence that we’re all too familiar in writing. But, alas, the Jets went on to have an underwhelming performance in the second half, ultimately failing to adjust to the Eagles’ second-half adjustments.

The Jets, who have been considered by many to be more of a “second-half type team” this season, struck lightning to open up Week 13. That lightning came and went, and now they’re onto their Week 14 opponent, the New Orleans Saints.

The NY Jets will face a struggling New Orleans Saints team in Week 14

The Saints, who will carry a record of 5-7 waltzing into MetLife Stadium on Sunday, fell to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football to carry on with their underwhelming 2021 campaign.

The Jets have no right to overlook any opponent, not even the Saints, who are currently riding a five-game losing streak entering this upcoming week.

New Orleans has had some intriguing storylines throughout the majority of the season, one of note would be their quarterback situation. Fifth-year quarterback Taysom Hill, who recently suffered a finger injury, will reportedly try to play through the pain without receiving surgery.

This is notable for the Jets, who have had their fair share of quarterback drama throughout the early parts of the season.

If Hill can’t go against New York, it’ll be sixth-year quarterback Trevor Siemian under center. Siemian should be a familiar name to Jets fans as he spent 2019 on the Jets’ active roster, starting one game that season.

Siemian suffered a season-ending ankle injury, knocking him out for the entirety of 2019 and beyond. Siemian returned in 2021 with a new attitude, signing to the Saints’ roster as a backup.

Little did he know, Siemian would be the center of controversy at the quarterback position for New Orleans after starter Jameis Winston went down with a torn ACL.

The Saints, like many other teams around the NFL, have had their own bout with adversity. It doesn’t seem to stop them from competing, so the Jets should be on high-alert for a potentially aggressive Saints team come Sunday.

In terms of a few recent storylines for New Orleans, wide receiver Deonte Harris, who leads the team in receiving yards, has been suspended for the next three games following a DUI arrest that occurred last summer.

That’s a big blow for a Saints team that is as diminished as they come. As if the hits just can’t keep coming for New Orleans, star defensive end Cameron Jordan was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, his Week 14 status is surely in doubt.

A familiar name that the Jets should certainly keep an eye on come Sunday is linebacker Demario Davis. Davis, 32, started his career with the Jets and played admirably during his five seasons in New York.

The Jets chose to let Davis hit the open market in 2018, as he chose New Orleans as an ideal landing spot. Davis got an All-Pro nod in 2019. It may have been wise to re-sign a player like Demario Davis, but this was the doing of the previous regime, so we’ll give the Jets as a whole some slack here.

In regards to this Sunday’s contest, try to keep it competitive. Zach Wilson must continue to play within the system, while using his “superpower,” as head coach Robert Saleh likes to refer to it, when need be.

This shouldn’t be a blowout-type-game. The defense certainly needs to get things figured out ahead of this matchup — it’ll be crucial to do so in keeping pace with a Sean Payton-coached squad.