Plenty of people hand out game balls after the game. That’s easy. Watch the game, see who does well, give them the game ball. We’re doing something a little different. We’re handing out a pre-game ball. Before we watch the game, let’s settle on a player or players we think might be a decisive advantage for the Jets in the upcoming game. Occasionally we might hand out a pre-blame ball. If we think the Jets are going to get slaughtered, we’ll try to identify a prime culprit.
One caveat: the quarterback
is off limits. Nothing personal against quarterbacks, but they are obviously the most important players on the field. We could give out a pre-game or pre-blame ball to the quarterback virtually every week, but that would be boring, so we’re not going to do it. We’ll try to identify somebody besides the quarterback for the glory or the ignominy.
This approach comes with the obvious drawback that predictions are difficult, especially about the future. We’re destined to get many of these wrong. No matter. We’ll have some laughs along the way. Let’s get to it.
The Jets pre-game ball for the Jets game against the Cleveland Browns goes to (drum roll please) – Braelon Allen!
The Jets are a bit of a mess on offense going into this game. They are missing starting running back Breece Hall, starting guard Dylan Parham and three receivers – Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr and Arian Smith on offense. In addition, the weather is likely to be a mess, with the game expected to be played in a driving rain storm. All of this makes the Jets’ passing offense carrying the day a bit unlikely. Consequently the team may need the the running game to step up and carry the offense.
Fortunately for the Jets the Browns have struggled defending against the run. They rank 24th in the NFL in yards allowed per rushing attempt at 4.6. In addition, the Browns have struggled to run the ball on offense, ranking 25th in the NFL with 3.7 yards per carry.
Braelon Allen has never had more than 81 yards from scrimmage in any game in his NFL career. He has rarely been given the opportunity to carry the load for the Jets. Sunday seems like a great day to change that. Bad weather games were made for big bruising backs. In bad weather against a Browns team that struggles to defend against the run the Jets may see Allen as the best path to victory. If they can find some success in running the ball early the Jets will probably ride Allen as far as he can take them. Braelon Allen, come on down! Your breakout game awaits. You get your opportunity on Sunday. Let’s see you run with it.
What about you? Who would you give the pre-game ball to? Let us know in the comments.
