Last Updated on October 14, 2010 12:29 am by Anthony Rome
Jets vs. Broncos Preview
DENVER, CO – With one of the NFL’s top passing attacks up next, the New York Jets hope their star cornerback will be available to help.
The AFC East-leading Jets look to open 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2001 when they visit Kyle Orton and the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Jets 3-point spread favorites for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. Current NFL Public Betting Information shows that 80% of more than the 3,192 bets for this game have been placed on the Jets -3.
New York (4-1) owned the top-ranked pass defense in 2009, but the team hasn’t been nearly as effective in that area this season, allowing 234.6 yards per game through the air – 23rd in the league.
That’s due in part to the health issues encountered by Darrelle Revis, who suffered a strained right hamstring Sept. 19 and missed the next two games.
He returned Monday night in a 29-20 victory over Minnesota, but said his leg was “very sore” afterward. Revis was able to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, but coach Rex Ryan wasn’t sure whether he would have his All-Pro cornerback Sunday.
“There was added swelling in his leg,” Ryan said, “but hopefully he’ll be ready to roll.”
Ryan and the Jets need him to be as they face the Broncos, who behind Orton are averaging 346.6 yards a game through the air – second in the league.
New York can take the pressure off its defense by continuing to successfully run the ball. The Jets rolled up 155 yards on the ground against the Vikings – 151 from LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene – and lead the league with 165.2 rushing yards a game.
Mark Sanchez supplemented the strong ground attack Monday by passing for 191 yards. After throwing 20 interceptions as a rookie last season, Sanchez is the only starting quarterback in the NFL with at least 100 attempts yet to turn the ball over.
“Sometimes last year, it felt like I was giving it away like it was my job,” Sanchez said. “It was just poor decision making. Now, I trust the backs to get out, I’m hanging in the protection and giving our guys chances and they’re really coming up with big plays.”
Orton has done plenty of that, as he ranks second in the league with 1,733 passing yards. He threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns last week, but Denver (2-3) fell 31-17 at Baltimore.
Orton surpassed the 300-yard mark for the fourth straight game, but he knows the Broncos face another formidable opponent Sunday.
“Got a big week of preparation this week, face another good team, another good defense, and we’re certainly going to have play better at home to beat the Jets,” he said.
Brandon Lloyd will be a major concern for New York’s secondary, as the receiver has four 100-yard games this season – matching his total of the previous seven years of his career. He leads the NFL with 589 receiving yards.
“He’s a long strider. I think he’s deceptively fast,” Orton said. “Certainly I’ve got a lot of confidence in him just to throw it up – he can make plays jumping up for the ball in the air.”
The Broncos (2-3) have been hit hard by injuries this season and lost three more key players last week.
Eight-time Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Andre’ Goodman and linebacker Robert Ayers left with injuries and have been ruled out against New York.
“Certainly the injuries don’t make it easy, but we’ve been dealing with that for a long time now and I think the next guy has got to step up and play well,” coach Josh McDaniels said. “We’ve got to give them a good game plan. We might have to be creative with a few things that we do. But that’s part of everybody’s season.”
Running back Knowshon Moreno did not practice Wednesday as he continues to recover from a strained hamstring he aggravated in Week 2. His status for Sunday is uncertain.
The Broncos won the last two matchups with the Jets. New York’s most recent visit to Denver came in 2005.
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