Zach Wilson will make his long awaited sophomore season debut on Sunday afternoon when the Jets (1-2) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2).
And while it may seem like asking a lot of the 22-year old Wilson, the facts are the clock is ticking on him and the Jets to get things turned around.
Wilson missed the last two months after tearing his meniscus and suffering a bone bruise in his right knee in the preseason. After an uneven rookie campaign in 2021, Wilson needs to show his knee is stable, and that he has the goods to put the Jets on his back and take them to another level.
It’s not like Wilson is coming into a great situation. 1) The Jets are 1-2. 2) The offensive line is in tatters, as the Jets are already on their fourth left tackle in back-up center Connor McGovern. 3) There is an apparent rift between defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and the Jets coaching staff as Williams was seen yelling at his position coach last week.
During the week, Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich threw Williams under the proverbial bus when he said the former first round pick was “gasping for air” when asked why Williams wasn’t in on certain plays. Head Coach Robert Saleh tried to blame the media for exaggerating the quote.
Saleh has already had issues with the New York press when he told reporters he was keeping receipts of anyone who rips his football team after a dispiriting 24-9 opening day loss to Baltimore.
Yep, welcome back Zach Wilson. Not only does he have to reignite an offense that has staggered at times under 37-year old Joe Flacco, Wilson has to help the Jets turn the page from so many other issues.
There will be a lot of eyes on Wilson. He has to show he has taken the next step in his development. Which means cutting down on turnovers, and pushing the Jets offense along with more alacrity than he did a year ago.
If he struggles, many will wonder if the Jets have the right guy under center.
NY Jets (1-2) @ Pittsburgh (1-2) (-3.5)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 22: Mitch Trubisky #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass during the first quarter ahead of defender Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #28 of the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
So this will be Zach Wilson’s 2022 season debut. This is now Wilson’s opportunity to showcase that he is a different, more mature player than he was in 2021. If he does, the Jets will be ok in the long run. An uneven effort against a Steelers team that is without T.J. Watt for the third straight week, many will begin wondering.The Steelers are home, had extra rest, and never question Head Coach Mike Tomlin with extra time to game-plan. The only problem for Pittsburgh is under center in the form of Mitchell Trubisky, who has not been spectacular. It’s only a matter of time before hometown hero Kenny Pickett gets the ball. Could it be this week?
PICK: STEELES 21 – JETS 17.Chicago Bears (2-1) @ NY Giants (2-1) (-3.0)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 15: Defensive lineman Leonard Marshall #70 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor #56 of the New York Giants look on from the field during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Giants Stadium on December 15, 1984 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
The Giants (2-1) and Bears (2-1) have been modest surprises in the early season. Both teams have been guided by stingy defense and strong running games in the early going. The Giants could have an huge advantage because second year Bears quarterback Justin Fields continues to struggle. The former Ohio State product has only 297 yards passing, and has completed only 51 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and four picks.
The Giants limited Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari last week vs. Dallas. Time to turn them loose against Chicago.
Saquon Barkley needs a big game. Barkley has been quiet the past two weeks and needs to get going to make things easier for Daniel Jones. A lot of people want to get on Jones for tossing a late interception last week, but the Dallas loss was really on Big Blue’s defense.
NOTE: The Giants are bringing back their 80’s/90’s uniforms this week. Yes, the uniforms the likes of Lawrence Taylor and Phil Simms once made famous. Never understood why Big Blue ran away from this look. Whenever I see it, it screams Giants championship football.
PICK: GIANTS 24 – BEARS 10Minnesota Vikings (2-1) (-3.5) vs. New Orleans Saints (1-2)
ASCOT, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Ascot Racecourse on November 23, 2018 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
For the first time in NFL history teams playing games in London, England will sing “God Save the King,” rather than “God Save the Queen,” before kickoff due to the recent passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
No idea if King Charles III is making a guest appearance, but the NFL is back for it’s annual slate of games across the pond, starting off with the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.
Both of these teams are hard to predict on a weekly basis since they are both so mediocre. If jetlag means anything, the Saints arrived in London earlier in the week, while the Vikings got there on Friday. Will it make a difference with the six hour time difference between the central time zone of the USA and the United Kingdom? Who knows.
Facts are the Saints will have back-up quarterback Andy Dalton under center with Jameis Winston out of this game with an injury. It could be rough for the Saints if Alvin Kamara and Jarvis Landry — both questionable — are limited. If both play without a setback, the Saints have a shot.
The Vikings need Kirk Cousins to avoid reverting to turnover machine Kirk Cousins. Easier said than done.
This one could go either way.
PICK: SAINTS 26 – VIKINGS 23
Buffalo Bills (2-1) (-3.0) @ Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
Easily the game of the week! Why is this not a 4:25 kick-off? It could be a playoff preview. The Buffalo Bills are getting three points based on their incredible start to the year where they blew out the LA Rams and Tennessee Titans. And many expect them to come into Baltimore angry after their 21-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
We know Ken Dorsey knows about being ticked off.
#Bills OC Ken Dorsey LOST IT in the coaching booth. Oh my.pic.twitter.com/x1WcoSTY1c
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 25, 2022The key for Buffalo will be slowing down Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is off to a brilliant start to the year with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. If they contain Jackson, or force some turnovers they could have a big day.
The biggest issue for the Ravens is their defense. They are giving up 471 yards per game, and blew a huge lead to Miami two weeks ago. This will be a stiff challenge for the Ravens defense to go up against Josh Allen and the explosive Bills offense.
PICK: BILLS 34 – RAVENS 31
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) (-6.5)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 18: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at TIAA Bank Field on September 18, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)
Who knew that Eagles-Jaguars would be a huge game in Week 4, but it is. It really, really is. The Eagles are the NFL’s lone unbeaten team after Miami got beaten by Cincinnati on Thursday. They go up against their old head coach, Doug Peterson, who brings the upstart Jaguars into the City of Brotherly Love.
There is undoubtedly going be a lot of emotion on the field for Peterson. He was fired unceremoniously because of issues he had with current Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. To his credit Hurts has played well under second year head coach Nick Siriani. Peterson isn’t doing too badly himself as he guides Trevor Lawrence to new heights in his second year.
This could be a big match-up between these two quarterbacks one day in the future.
PICK: EAGLES 24 – JAGUARS 16
