As the Jets prepare to face the Denver Broncos, the question becomes whether the Jets will be able to solve the T-bone offense.
Most think that coach Rex Ryan, even on a short week, will be able to come up with a scheme for shutting down a run-based offense that somehow has steamrolled the Raiders and Chiefs in successive weeks. But as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News pointed out during a Thursday visit to PFT Live, the best way to beat the Broncos will be to build a big lead early, forcing them away from their 55-to-8 run-pass ratio.
If/when quarterback Tim Tebow is compelled to throw the ball, tonight’s contest could look a lot like the last Broncos game played in Denver, which the Lions won easily, 45-10.
Of course, that concept cuts both ways. If the Broncos can build an early lead, the Jets will be nudged away from “ground and pound,” giving Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller an opportunity to pound Mark Sanchez into the ground.
That’s why the smart move for the Broncos could be to unleash Air Timmy early, using play-action passes against a defense that presumes the Broncos will continue the cloud-of-dust approach to moving the chains.
Though the final two or three quarters could end up being pretty boring, the chance of either team scoring an early knockout could make the first quarter or two well worth the price of admission.