EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.: The Atlanta Falcons have had quarterback points, a three-game shedding streak and a report beneath .500.
And they’re tied for the NFC South lead.
The New York Jets have had a season crammed with comparable struggles — they usually’re in peril of falling out of the AFC playoff hunt.
It’s all a matter of circumstances for the groups that meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“Consistency, right?” Falcons coach Arthur Smith mentioned. “That’s the biggest challenge week to week. For us to take the next step, we need to do that with being consistent and playing with the same focus and energy that we had going into last week.”
The Falcons (5-6) confirmed they might make the most of a bye week following three straight losses to return for an impressed, high-energy rivalry win over New Orleans at house.
The larger take a look at is likely to be proving they’ll win back-to-back video games for the primary time since their 2-0 begin.
“It goes back to consistency,” Smith mentioned. “Shouldn’t take a loss or feel like your back is against the wall to have that level of focus and intensity.”
The Jets (4-7) know the sensation. They have dropped 4 in a row, with the latest being a 34-13 loss to Miami on Black Friday.
The skid, which has included a quarterback change from Zach Wilson to Tim Boyle, has New York’s postseason hopes sinking quick. Robert Saleh challenged his coaches and gamers this week to be higher and give attention to controlling what they’ll.
“There’s a lot of frustration all over the place, especially on the offensive side of the ball,” Saleh mentioned. “Guys are searching, they’re reaching, and sometimes you’ve just got to go back to understanding who you are and what your style of play is.”
Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers’ potential comeback this season from a torn Achilles tendon stays a significant storyline for the Jets. The four-time NFL MVP returned to observe this week — the following step in his stunningly speedy rehabilitation.
Rodgers stays intent on taking part in on the finish of the season, so long as the medical doctors clear him — and the Jets keep within the playoff hunt.
“If that’s a byproduct of us winning football games and I’m happy for him, but I don’t think it adds a level of pressure or stress to us,” Boyle mentioned. “We’re trying to win every football game we play in, so hopefully we can keep him in contention.”
BOYLE BACK UNDER CENTER
While the Jets wait to see if Rodgers will be capable to truly come again this season, Boyle will get a second straight begin.
The 29-year-old veteran backup was unable to spark New York’s struggling offense, going 27 of 38 for 179 yards and a TD with two interceptions — together with a Hail Mary that was returned 99 yards for a rating — towards Miami in his first begin because the 2021 season. He was additionally sacked seven instances.
“They have a really good defense, the Falcons,” Boyle mentioned. “But I think it’s continuing to just build on the run game and just getting the ball out of my hands and getting it into the playmakers’ hands so they can make a move or two.”
MORE SAUCE FOR RIDDER
Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder have been teammates at Cincinnati, and now face one another as opponents within the NFL.
“There was a lot of talking going on, a lot of chirping back and forth,” Ridder mentioned of his faculty competitions with Gardner in observe. “But, you know, at the end of the day, it was just making each other better. … It was just constant competition.”
Ridder had a fast reply when requested if the school buddies would place a wager on the sport.
“No, we don’t bet,” Ridder mentioned. “No, I don’t think any of us will touch that anytime soon.”
STALLED HALL
Jets operating again Breece Hall received off to a terrific begin this season in his return from a torn knee ligament that ended his rookie season after seven video games.
But whereas the offense has stagnated currently, so has Hall. He has simply 76 yards on 27 carries in his previous three video games. After operating for a career-high 177 yards at Denver, Hall has not run for greater than 50 yards in any of the Jets’ six video games since.
“Breece is a special talent and we all agree when the ball is in his hands, we’re better, but there’s grimy yards that a back has to understand he has to get,” Saleh mentioned. “When you press, you’re going to try to create an explosive every single play and you’re going to lose that style of play that makes you special.”
BACKFIELD DEPTH
Cordarrelle Patterson has joined Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to present Atlanta three choices at operating again. Each had at the least eight carries final week towards New Orleans and every averaged at the least 5.4 yards per carry.
Ridder mentioned Patterson’s bodily runs on the center of the New Orleans’ defensive entrance was a vital addition to the offense.
“Oh, it’s huge,” Ridder mentioned. “You know, any time you give the guy the ball, you want to see a physical, tough runner. I mean, all three of the guys that we have back there in the backfield, you know, can get that done. So to be able to just kind of rotate them in and let them get in a groove and run how they run, it’s hard to stop.”
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AP Sports Writer Charles Odum contributed.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
