The Denver Broncos (1-2) travel to take on the New York Jets (2-1) on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. MT. After an 0-2 start, Denver rattled off an impressive win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend and are looking to ride that momentum into the Meadowlands.
What are three matchups that will have a strong impact on the outcome of Sunday’s matinee?
Denver Broncos three matchups to watch for vs. New York Jets
If the Denver Broncos are going to improve to 2-2 on the season by winning on the road against the New York Jets, what are three matchups that will be the most crucial to watch for on Sunday?
PS2, Riley Moss vs. Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard
Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss have quickly emerged as one of the NFL’s potential top cornerback duos this season. Surtain is playing at a high rate, limiting DK Metcalf, George Pickens, and Mike Evans through the first three weeks of the season. With Surtain following around the opposing team’s No. 1 option, Moss has seen action guarding the second-best option.
The Jets’ top two receivers this season have been Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard from a production standpoint, and more than likely, they’ll be the focus of coverage. Former AFC West rival Mike Williams is also in the mix, coming off of a three-catch, 34-yard performance against the New England Patriots last week.
Rodgers excels at getting the ball out of his hands quickly and still puts the football into tight windows, whether that’s against zone or man coverage. He knows where to go with it if a cornerback is playing underneath or over the top. That leads to the next key matchup to watch for.
Broncos pass rush vs. Jets OL
Coming off of a seven-sack performance against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bronco’s defense will need to get after Rodgers quickly. Through the first three weeks of the season, Rodgers has only been sacked five times. In comparison, Bo Nix has only been sacked four times, with both teams sitting in the top ten on sacks allowed offensively.
Jets offensive tackle Morgan Moses is trending toward missing this game, which means rookie first-round draft pick Olu Fashanu will likely get the start at right tackle. He’s 6-foot-6 and was impressive at Penn State. Veteran Tyron Smith has been limited most of the week and will be the left tackle.
Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, and Dondrea Tillman will be crucial off the edge, as will be the interior pass rush from Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, and D.J. Jones. Franklin-Myers is making a bit of a homecoming after the Jets traded him this offseason so they could free up cap space for Haason Reddick, who continues to hold out and is making Denver’s trade for JFM look like an absolute steal.
Courtland Sutton vs. Sauce Gardner
Sutton vs. Gardner is going to be a fun matchup to watch. There have been some back-and-forth battles between them over the last two seasons, and Gardner seemingly got away with defensive holding on some shot attempts. Sutton hasn’t exploded yet this season but he has caught several big passes past 10+ yards that have helped keep some offensive drives alive.
Part of this matchup will also be determined by how well Denver can protect Bo Nix. Through three weeks, the Jets defense has tallied 14 total sacks, which is tied for 2nd in the NFL. They’re finding ways to get after the quarterback and have done so with eight different players getting involved.
Will we see Nix trust the confidence in his arm and ability and test Gardner in this game? Those risks will have to be calculated ones on Sunday, and Denver will need some big plays in the passing game if they want to get a road win.