It’s only Week 2, but plenty will be on the line when the Jets take on the Browns on Monday night.
With Sam Darnold sidelined and lots of emotion in play, New York’s primetime showdown with Cleveland carries a little added weight. Factor in the possibility of the Jets starting the season 0-2 with the schedule only getting tougher from here on out and you have the makings of a must-win game.
What should Jets fans be aware of before the two teams kick off on Monday night? Here are some storylines to keep an eye on.
Trevor Siemian takes the field
It’s officially Trevor Siemian time in New York.
With Sam Darnold sidelined for the foreseeable future with mononucleosis, it’s on Siemian to lead the Jets through arguably the roughest part of their schedule over the next couple of weeks. Siemian has plenty of starting experience, but it is a tough task for the Northwestern product on such short notice.
It all begins on Monday night for the fifth-year pro. The Jets won’t ask the world of him, but Siemian is expected to go out and at least turn in a serviceable performance to keep Gang Green in the game.
Odell Beckham Jr.’s homecoming
For five years, Odell Beckham Jr. called MetLife Stadium home. On Monday night, he will return to the place where he established himself as one of football’s best wide receivers.
It doesn’t carry the same significance as it would if he were playing the Giants, but Beckham Jr. will be playing with an edge against the Jets in Week 2. With no other games on the schedule, his former team will be watching and Beckham Jr. will be looking to prove that they made the wrong decision trading him away this past offseason.
MetLife Stadium was Beckham Jr.’s personal playground on numerous occasions in his tenure with the Giants. He’ll be looking to recreate some of that magic against the Jets.
Revenge for Gregg Williams?
Odell Beckham Jr. won’t be the only one itching for a little revenge on Monday night.
After taking over as the Browns’ interim head coach midway through last season, Gregg Williams led Cleveland to some late-season success. He was in the mix for the full-time job at season’s end, but John Dorsey spurned him in favor of offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens.
Throughout his lengthy career as a defensive coordinator, Williams has always called an aggressive game. Expect him to bring a little more heat on Mayfield and company in Week 2 as he looks to stick it to the team that overlooked him for their head coaching job.
Le’Veon Bell’s health
The MRI on Le’Veon Bell’s shoulder might’ve come back clean, but that doesn’t mean the Jets won’t be wary of their star running back’s health in Week 2.
Make no mistake about it, Bell will see a heavy workload with Sam Darnold out. However, the Jets cannot afford to run him into the ground only two weeks into his first season with the team — especially when he’s already banged up.
Bell wants the ball, but New York needs to manage risk versus reward in this situation. Winning in Week 2 is imperative, but keeping Bell healthy is important for the long-term success of the team.
Down Defenders
The Jets will be without two of their key defensive players against the Browns, as both C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams will sit out due to injury.
New York has the depth to make up for Williams’ absence on the defensive line, so the Jets aren’t in too much trouble in the trenches. However, Mosley is an invaluable part of New York’s defense. Based on what happened when he went down in the fourth quarter against the Bills, the Jets might be in trouble without him.
The Browns got off to a slow start against the Titans but have numerous offensive weapons that can hurt an opposing defense. Without Williams and especially Mosley, New York will be hardpressed to get stops throughout the night.
Rivalries aplenty
Between Adam Gase and Jarvis Landry’s long-standing beef and Odell Beckham Jr.’s recent war of words with Gregg Williams, there will be plenty of personal rivalries at play when the Jets and the Browns square off in Week 2.
Teams from different divisions don’t often form rivalries like the Jets and the Browns have in only a week’s time. It remains to be seen if this rivalry is just a week-long feud or one that can stand the test of time, but that doesn’t change the fact that Monday night is shaping up to be a war.
