NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Are the Jets for real?
Gang Green has gotten off to a surprising 2-1 start that just as easily could be 3-0, or 0-3.
Now, they travel to Music City to face an equally surprising 2-1 Titans in a battle for credibility. It will be hard to dismiss whichever team comes out of Sunday’s meeting at 3-1, while the loser still will have more to prove.
The Jets have not fallen into the trap of boasting about winning two of their first three games. Even coach Rex Ryan would not take the chance to say “I told you so” this week to tell critics who had the Jets pegged as the worst team in the NFL.
“We’ll see. It’s a long season ahead,” Ryan said. “I think I know what it’s going to look like, but we’ll see.”
The Jets return to Tennessee nine months after suffering a humiliating 14-10 loss on Monday night that ended their playoff hopes in 2012 and led to massive changes in the organization. That was Mark Sanchez’s last stand as the Jets starting quarterback. He has been replaced by rookie Geno Smith, who has give Jets fans reason to hope, and mope, in his first three starts. Smith had two long touchdown passes last week, but has six interceptions this season.
The LP Field crowd can get that place rocking if the Jets slip. So starting off quickly is a huge priority this week.
“It’s important that we are extremely focused,” guard Willie Colon said. “When that crowd gets behind them, it gets loud and hostile fast. It’s important for us to start fast and keep Geno clean, get him in a rhythm and get the run game going and let the defense do what they do. If we do that, we have a shot to come out of there with a win.”
Like the Jets, the Titans could be 3-0. Their only loss came in overtime Week 2 in Houston. Last week they pulled out a last-second win.
“We’re not walking into Okefenokee State,” Colon said. “We’re walking into another team that is 2-1 and trying to knock on people’s doors, too. They’re aiming to be recognized and get to postseason play just like we are. They have the same drive we have.”
A look inside the game:
MARQUEE MATCHUP
Titans RB Chris Johnson vs. Jets LB David Harris
The Jets don’t need much of a reminder of what Johnson can do. He broke off a 94-yard run against them last season that was basically the Jets’ only slip-up in the game. Johnson comes into Sunday leading the AFC with 256 rushing yards, but he has not reached the end zone yet.
Harris had a tremendous game last week against the Bills and has been in the middle of a run-stopping front seven.
“You have to keep him in front of you,” Harris said. “You can’t let him get outside because no one on this defense is fast enough to catch him from behind. We need 11 guys on this defense running to the ball on every play and the big men up front have to be responsible for their gap. [They] have to control their gap. It’s going to be a tough, physical game.”
POWELL POWER
The Jets got the ground game going last week against the Bills, with Bilal Powell rushing for a career-high 149 yards. Who saw that coming? Powell was an afterthought this offseason when the Jets signed Mike Goodson and traded for Chris Ivory. But Goodson (suspended) and Ivory (hamstring injury) can’t get on the field, and Powell is taking advantage. His 226 rushing yards are second in the AFC behind Johnson.
The Titans have an attacking defense that will tee off on Smith if it is not slowed down by an efficient running game from the Jets. Powell is gaining confidence, and the offensive line is beginning to come together. The Titans have allowed 4.4 yards per carry, something the Jets need to take advantage of.
HURT LOCKER
The Jets would love to make Titans quarterback Jake Locker beat them. Locker’s play has improved this year, but he still is not a feared passer. He is doing more damage with his feet. He ran for 68 yards and a touchdown last week. The Jets would love to keep Locker in the pocket and force him to beat them with his arm.
“He’s a great athlete,” Jets defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said. “He’s got good size, good speed and he’s a threat anytime he has the ball under his arm. The guy is an excellent football player and he’s doing a good job of leading them. They’ve been down in some games and he’s brought them back.”
HOLD THE LINE
Opponents have not blitzed the Jets a ton so far. That will change Sunday. The Titans blitz about 50 percent of the time, according to the Jets coaches and players. The Jets offensive line did not allow a sack last week against the Bills. It will be hard for them to match that this week but keeping Smith upright will be a big factor in this game.
TURN THEM OVER
The Titans have zero turnovers this season. The Jets defense has forced only one. This is going to be a stat worth watching. Locker should have had an interception last week, but a Chargers defensive back dropped the ball. The Jets have had some chances ruined by poor officiating and Ryan mismanaging his challenges. The Jets are minus-6 in turnover ratio, 30th in the league. That is not a way to have sustainable success in the NFL. The defense needs to give Smith and the offense some short fields to work with.
COSTELLO’S CALL
This is going to be a physical game, with both teams trying to control the game on the ground and take a few shots down field. I give the Titans the edge because they’re at home, but this one could go either way.
TITANS 23, JETS 17 (OT)