The New York Jets will open their season tomorrow when they take on the Houston Texans, a team that hasn't had a winning season in their seven years in the NFL. The Texans, however, finished 8-8 in both of the last two seasons and are projected to finally have a breakthrough season with a possible playoff berth. The Jets go into the game as 5-point underdogs, as they will face a formidable opponent who has won their last 3 home games and is 12-4 in home games over the last two seasons. Last season the Texans were ranked 3rd in total offense (4th in passing, 4th in rushing).
The duo of QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson represent the biggest threat to the Jets defense that didn't really show much of a pass-rush in preseason. Schaub had his best season last year when he passed for over 3,000 yards, 15 TD, 10 INT. Andre Johnson has developed into one of the premier wide receivers in the league. He also had his best season last year - over 1,500 yards, 8 TD. CB Darrelle Revis will be glued to Johnson over the entire course of the game, and the outcome of their matchup might as well decide this game. Johnson has averaged almost 100 yards per game against the Jets over the course of his career.
OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson will be facing a former #1 overall Draft pick, DE Mario Williams. Williams recorded 12 sacks last season and 14 in the year before. Ferguson, who promised a Pro Bowl season earlier this year, is expected to have his hands full tomorrow. If there's a perfect opportunity for him to back up his offseason statement, then this is it.
The Jets will most likely have to rely on their running attack that features last season's AFC #1 rusher RB Thomas Jones, Pro Bowl RB Leon Washington and rookie RB Shonn Greene. The Texans were ranked 23rd last season against the run, allowing 122.6 yards per game on the ground. If the Jets establish their running attack, it should take the pressure off rookie QB Mark Sanchez, who will become the first Jets' rookie QB to start a game since Matt Robinson in 1977. Houston will be without their two starting defensive backs, CB Jacques Reeves and FS Eugene Wilson, which also should help Sanchez.
While Houston's running attack was ranked only 13th last season, their starting RB Steve Slaton ran for almost 1,300 yards, averaging almost 5 yards per carry, and scored 9 touchdowns on the ground. The Texans are expected to run at LB Vernon Gholston who will make his first NFL start in place of suspended LB Calvin Pace. If Gholston fails to deliver, we might see undrafted rookie LB Jamaal Westerman take his place.
Fast facts:
Jets: head coach Rex Ryan will make NFL debut as head coach. The Jets aim for 4th consecutive win against Texans. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez (1st round, No. 5) will become 1st Jets rookie QB to start game since Matt Robinson in 1977. RB Thomas Jones led AFC with 1,312 rush yards in ’08 and aims for 5th consecutive season with 1,000 yards. Jones’ 15 TDs (13 rush, 2 rec.) and 13 rush TDs in ’08 set Jets season records. RB Leon Washington led NFL with franchise record 2,337 combined yards in ’08. In 1 career game vs. Hou. (11/26/06), WR Jerricho Cotchery recorded 7 receptions for 110 yards (15.7 avg.). In ’08, TE Dustin Keller ranked 2nd in NFL among rookie TEs with 48 receptions for 535 yards (11.1 avg.). LB Bart Scott will make Jets debut. Scott aims for 5th consecutive season with 100 or more tackles. S Kerry Rhodes led Jets secondary with 81 tackles in ’08. Pro Bowl CB Darrelle Revis recorded career-high 5 INTs last year.
Texans: Dating back to 12/1/08, club aims for 4th consecutive win at home. In past 6 at home as starter, QB Matt Schaub is 6-0 and has completed 143 of 209 passes (68.4 pct.) for 1,831 yards with 11 TDs vs. 2 INT and 109.2 passer rating. Schaub posted career-best 3,043 passing yards in ’08. In ’08, RB Steve Slaton (1,282) surpassed Domanick Williams (1,188 in ’04) for most rush yards by RB in franchise history in single season. Dating back to 12/1/06, Slaton is averaging 101.6 rush yards per game in past 5. In 3 career games vs. NYJ, Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson averages 98 receiving yards per game (294 total). In ’08, Johnson led NFL with career-high 115 rec. for 1,575 receiving yards (13.7 avg.). Johnson averaged 136.1 receiving yards per game (1,089 total) at home in ’08. WR Kevin Walter posted career-high 8 TD receptions last season…Pro Bowl TE Owen Daniels had career-best in receptions (70) & receiving yards (862) in ’08. Since ’07, DE Mario Williams ranks 1st in AFC with 26 sacks. LB De Meco Ryans registered team-high 112 tackles last season.
New York Jets Injury Report:
Questionable: DE Mike Devito (hamstring)
Probable: QB Kellen Clemens (right elbow), RB Shonn Greene (ribs), TE Dustin Keller (toe), LB Bryan Thomas (ankle), WR Wallace Wright (knee)
Houston Texans Injury Report:
Out: CB Jacques Reeves (fibula), CB Eugene Wilson (knee)
Questionable: DT Deljuan Robinson (calf), WR Kevin Walter (hamstring)
Probable: QB Matt Schaub (ankle)
The game will be broadcast by CBS (see if you can catch it on your local station). The kickoff is at 1PM EST.
J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!!!
If you have a twitter account, don't forget to do the J-E-T-S chant before the game.