With just a couple of weeks remaining before the start of the new NFL season, the Jets appear to still be in a quandary about their quarterback situation. While other teams are already ratcheting up their preparations for Week 1, the Jets still have no idea of who their starting QB will be for the season opener against Buffalo.
We wouldn’t blame head coach Todd Bowles one bit for his indecision given the quarterbacks at his disposal. Even though Josh McCown is the Jets’ presumed Week 1 starter, Bowles is evening the reps out and will give Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty much of the playing time against the Giants this coming Saturday.
Hackenberg squandered his opportunity to grab the Jets’ starting QB position when he flamed out against the Detroit Lions last Saturday. Hackenberg struggled mightily in that encounter, going 2-of-6 for 14 yards as he didn’t generate any points for New York for the second consecutive week. Petty hasn’t fared much better this preseason with the 26-year-old completing just 56.4 percent of his passes.
Hackenberg and Petty stand to benefit, though, with the possible return of Matt Forte. He has signaled his intention to play against the Giants after recovering from a hamstring problem. Forte’s return will help boost a Jets offense that’s averaging just 70.5 yards per game on the ground this preseason, seventh-worst in the NFL.
The Jets are 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games.
The New York Giants suffered a painful double black-eye on Monday. Not only did they lose to the Cleveland Browns, they also lost star wide receiver Odell Beckham for the foreseeable future after he sprained his left ankle on a questionable hit in the first half. The 24-year-old was undercut by Cleveland cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who drove his shoulder and helmet into Beckham’s left leg.
If reports are to be believed, Beckham could miss the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. That’s a bitter blow for the Giants as Beckham is a key part of their arsenal. He’s one of the NFL’s most electrifying playmakers, catching 101 passes last season. With Beckham sidelined, the race is on for head coach Ben McAdoo to find a replacement for Beckham. One guy who can step up for the Giants is rookie Evan Engram. He caught a team-high three passes for 32 yards in the loss to the Browns, including an impressive 21-yard catch-and-run when he came out of the backfield.
The onus now is on Eli Manning and the other starters to pick up the slack in Beckham’s absence. They were on the field for five series against Cleveland and scored a measly three points. Manning will have his work cut out for him, however, especially now that Brandon Marshall is also out injured with a shoulder problem. He completed 10-of-14 passes for 80 yards on Monday.
The Giants are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games.
