3 keys for Jacksonville Jaguars to beat NY Jets in Week 16

The Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets started a rebuild early this year. They both hired new head coaches and used a top 5 pick on a quarterback in this year’s draft. Unfortunately, neither team has improved much and it may be another year before they see tangible progress.

In Week 16, the Jags and the Jets will face off but even though the first overall pick in the 2022 draft may be at stake, they will try to come out of the game with a win. New York is the favorite, but only by one point, so this could end up becoming a close game.

If the Jaguars want to come out of MetLife Stadium with a win they need to follow these three keys.

1. The Jacksonville Jaguars need to pound the ball versus the NY Jets.

One of the Jaguars’ biggest mistakes in 2021 is their inability to get the running game going. Losing Travis Etienne in the preseason surely hurt but the Jags still had James Robinson, so there’s no excuse for their lack of production on the ground. Robinson also got hurt in Week 8 but even before that, he never got (and still hasn’t) more than 18 carries per game.

Several times this year, the Jags fell behind early, which forced them to abandon the run. Other times, they simply forgot they could run the ball. Against the Jets, Jacksonville will have a prime opportunity to pound the ball, as their run defense is one of the worst in the NFL. Moreover, defensive linemen Quinnen Williams and John Franklin-Meyers were placed on the COVID-19/reserve list, so New York will be vulnerable up front. It will now be up to the Jaguars to take advantage of the opportunity.