Jets vs. Raiders: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 8

The New York Jets (2-5) suffered a humiliating loss last week at MetLife Stadium to the Miami Dolphins, who got their first win under new head coach Jeff Hafley last week.

The Jets allowed the winless Miami to score on their first two possessions and the Jets once again had issues with trying to score points right before the half. Head coach Aaron Glenn desperately needs a win and another loss on Sunday could seal his fate as the team’s head coach in 2027.

The Raiders (3-4) got off to a great start under their first-year head coach Klint Kubiak, winning their first three games of the season. However, they’ve lost their last four and are coming off a brutal 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7. The Raiders defense has allowed at least 30 points in five of their seven games this year.

Here are Jets Wire’s three key matchups for the Jets as they host the Raiders in Week 8:

Frank Reich vs. Garrett Wilson

Rarely does a battle between two members of the same organization make this list, but it certainly needs to be addressed after the last two weeks.  I don’t think it’s personal between Wilson and Reich and the unfortunate part of having plenty of offensive weapons is certain players you relied on in the past are going to have weeks where they are lost in the shuffle.

But, GW’s usage over the past two weeks has been odd to say the least.  He’s only been targeted nine times over the past two games, which is not a good look for your best offensive player.  Being caught on a sideline camera venting his frustration at Geno Smith and Passing Game Coordinator Seth Ryan was also not a great look and had everyone assuming Wilson is unhappy and wants out of New York.

The only way Reich squashes this narrative is if he makes sure Wilson gets the ball.  Yes, I know Omar Cooper Jr. has emerged as a legitimate threat over the past two games, but the beauty of having an embarrassment of riches on offense is you can scheme a way for your star player to be the focal point and still find targets for everyone else. Reich has not shown much creativity in this offense and that will always be the key to make everyone happy.  The Jets cannot afford an unhappy Garrett Wilson, a player who has been through his fair share of losing since being drafted by the team in 2022.  Reich needs to get him the ball.  Plain and Simple.

Maxx Crosby vs. Armand Membou / Olu Fashanu

It’s been a fairly unusual year for Crosby, who was the Raiders best defensive player.  He was traded to the Ravens during last offseason, but Baltimore scrapped the trade after it was revealed he failed his physical and Crosby was returned to the Raiders.  The trade was scrapped after Las Vegas had already made their free agent moves which left an awkward situation between player and team.

That hasn’t fazed Crosby much this year and he still grades out as one of the top pass rushers in the league.  While he only has two sacks this year through seven games, he has 21 hurries (Fourth best in the league) and 13 hits (Third best in the league).  His 37 total pressures ranks him third overall among defensive linemen and his PFF grade of 86.2 is seventh best out of 113 defensive ends.

Membou and Fashanu have stabilized the Jets offensive line but Crosby serves as more of a Weak-Side Linebacker in Rob Leonard’s defense, which means depending on how the Jets lineup, he could face off against both.  The Raiders as a defense allow close to 400 yards of offense per game and close to 150 yards rushing per game.  If the Jets can contain Crosby, they could be in line for a strong day from the offense.

Ashton Jeanty vs. The Jets Defensive Line

Jeanty took a shot at the Jets defensive line this week when he said that there were a few guys who didn’t want to tackle, yet wouldn’t give a specific player. The former first-round pick isn’t having a good sophomore season as he’s only averaging 3.1 yards a carry to go with one touchdown. He has one 100 yard game on the season and he hasn’t rushed for more than 60 yards in a game since a Week 1 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

However, this could a major get right game for Jeanty, who will face a defensive line that ranks towards the bottom of the league against the run and will be without a key piece in T’Vondre Sweat. The Jets could also be without David Bailey, who is doubtful for this game with an undisclosed injury. Harrison Phillips has not played well, so expect to see more of the team’s fourth-round pick, Darrell Jackson Jr., as well as Nate Lynn, who played well in last week’s loss to the Dolphins.

While Jeanty may not be having the season a former Top 10 pick should be, he’s still a dangerous threat whenever he gets the ball and the Jets will need to be aggressive if they want to shut him down on Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets vs. Raiders: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 8