An inside look at Sunday’s Week 17 clash between the Jets and Seahawks in Seattle.
Marquee matchup
Jets quarterback Mike White versus Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
White is 1-2 in his three starts this season, but the offense has looked light years better with him at the helm as opposed to Zach Wilson. Now, White is in uncharted terrain. This game has significant playoff implications. Win and the Jets will continue to exist. If they lose, they will miss the playoffs for the twelfth consecutive season.
White stated, “We all have a fantastic chance.” Football is the quintessential team sport. It will never fall on a single person. It will never land on one side of the ball. This is a group effort. I do not believe it is necessary for me to enter and perform any out-of-the-ordinary actions. I must simply play my game, provide the ball to the playmakers, and assist this club attempt to move the ball and win these last two.”
On the opposite sideline is Carroll, the former head coach of the New York Jets who built his name developing defensive strategies. The Seahawks have a weak defense. They rank 29th in the NFL and allow 373.4 yards per game on average. But they are also vying for a spot in the playoffs, so you can expect Carroll to throw some unexpected moves at White.
Costello’s call
Both of these clubs still have postseason ambitions, so they have everything to play for. Geno Smith will face his former squad, while Mike White will audition for 2023. The Jets have been broken for quite some time, and I cannot imagine White mending anything. Smith delivers a devastating blow to the Jets’ season.
Seahawks 27, Jets 23
Four falls
Geno’s vengeance: Long before the Jets’ current quarterback issue with Zach Wilson, there was the Geno Smith quarterback crisis. Smith, selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, started for two seasons before a teammate’s punch fractured his jaw before to the 2015 season, thereby ending his tenure with the Jets.
Smith spent the next few years as a backup before restarting his career with the Seahawks this season. Smith was selected to the Pro Bowl this year and has put himself up for a lucrative offseason as a free agent. 71% of his passes have been completed, and he has 27 touchdown passes.
This week, Smith can ruin the Jets’ postseason aspirations.
Robert Saleh, the team’s head coach, remarked, “They’re extremely talented, and when you throw in an experienced quarterback like him, you can see how much he’s matured in his ability to process, get the ball out of his hands, and go off-schedule. He seemed really at ease and confident in that position. It is evident that he has flourished; he is at ease in his environment and performing at a very high level.”
The Jets and the Seahawks have the two top rookie cornerbacks in the NFL. Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets and Tariq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks are top candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Woolen is tied for the league lead in interceptions with six. Gardner has only two interceptions, but his coverage has been outstanding. It will be interesting to watch them both on the same field at the same time.
Saleh stated, “They’re both playing exceptionally well.” “Tariq has performed exceptionally well. He is a tall, muscular, and swift young man, quite similar to Sauce. He is doing an outstanding job. They are doing an excellent job of releasing him and allowing him to play. It’s uncommon for a new band to enjoy as much success as they have. These are two locations that will be prosperous for a very long time.”
The Jets offense has struggled in many areas this season, but the manner in which they have began games is at the top. This season, the Jets have scored only one touchdown on their opening drive. They have punted eleven times, kicked two field goals, and intercepted one pass. This season, the Jets have scored only two touchdowns in the first quarter.
Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator, remarked, “I’m not going to sit here and make excuses; the buck stops with me.” “I must seek out better strategies to get our team off to a quick start. I feel happy when we are able to make improvements and other similar things, but we must begin better, without a doubt.”
The Jets may be relieved that their home schedule is complete and that they will finish the season with two road games. This season at home, they posted a record of 3-5. They began the season 4-0 on the road, but have lost three consecutive games. This three-game losing streak on the road has occurred when nothing has gone good.
The Jets have lost three consecutive games in Seattle, including a 40-3 drubbing in 2020. Bill Parcells’s first game as head coach of the Jets, a 41-3 victory in Seattle in 1997, was the last time the team won there.
»Jets at Seahawks: Preview, predictions, and things to watch«