The New York Jetshost the Las Vegas Raiders at MetLife Stadium as part of the NFL's Week 8 offering. Both teams are looking to halt a slide. New York enters at 2-5 after consecutive losses, while Las Vegas is 3-4 following four straight defeats after opening their season 3-0.
This is a game the Jets should be able to win all things considered.
Then again, that's the same thing we said about Week 7's divisional clash with the Miami Dolphins. Even still, this game feels winnable for the home team.
Here are five things Jets Wire will be watching as New York tries to end its two-game skid.
How engaged will the MetLife Stadium crowd be?
Fans were upset after New York handed the previously winless Dolphins their first victory of the season. It's easy to see why. Week 7 set up favorably for the Jets
to do some damage. Now, rather than enjoy some positive atmosphere, they're trying to stop the bleeding.
The crowd's response could depend heavily on how the Jets start. An early scoring drive or a defensive stop would give the home team a chance to bring the energy back into the building, while another slow start could make a difficult afternoon even more uncomfortable. New York needs to give its fans a reason to believe the game will be different from the previous two.
Has Aaron Glenn lost the locker room?
Aaron Glenn is going to maintain his positivity. That we know. None of his players are going to exhibit negative traits to the media, but the body language in that Week 7 game was troubling. It will be interesting to see what type of energy is displayed on the sideline in this one.
There is a difference between frustration after losing and a locker room that has stopped believing in its leadership. Demario Davis has defended the team's character and resilience, while Dane Belton has pointed to the opportunity the Jets still have to improve. Their comments offer a counterpoint to the perception that the team is coming apart, but the next test is whether that belief shows up in the way the Jets respond to adversity against Las Vegas.
The Kirk Cousins vs. Geno Smith quarterback duel
Two grisly old vets that entered the NFL with expectations and promise. Both have evolved into savvy veterans that their teammates always seem to play hard for. Both can do some nice things. Both have enjoyed decent careers. Neither is going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Who takes the edge in this one?
Cousins enters the matchup with a significant statistical advantage in touchdown production. He leads the NFL with 16 touchdown passes through seven games, while Smith has thrown 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. Cousins remains Las Vegas' starter despite the Raiders' losing streak, and the Jets must find a way to disrupt his rhythm rather than letting him dictate the game from the pocket.
Smith, meanwhile, needs to avoid the costly mistakes that have hurt New York in recent weeks. If he protects the football and takes advantage of the opportunities the Raiders' defense presents, the Jets could have a chance to win the quarterback matchup even if Cousins produces another productive outing.
A chess match between Aaron Glenn and Klint Kubiak
Aaron Glenn can earn himself some positive press in this one if he can outwit Klint Kubiak in their chess match. Glenn calls plays for the Jets offense. Klint Kubiak calls the offensive plays for the Las Vegas Raiders offense. A Jets team that has had difficulty scoring will need to put up points, but it would help if Glenn can keep the Raiders from doing the same. They have scored 21 points or more in all of their games but one, and they have scored 26 points or more five times
For New York, the challenge is finding a way to slow down an offense that has continued to score despite the team's losing streak. The Jets cannot afford to let Las Vegas dictate the tempo, particularly if they struggle to finish drives themselves. Defensive adjustments and situational decisions will matter, especially if the Raiders find early success and force New York to chase the scoreboard.
Which team does the better job of handling adversity?
The Jets are 2-5 on the season and third in the AFC East. The Raiders have a better record (3-4) but have lost four straight after beginning the season at 3-0. Both sides are handling adversity. Both sides will experience adversity. The team that does the better job will probably end its losing streak.
The Raiders' losing streak has come despite Cousins' productive passing numbers, while the Jets have struggled to find consistency across all three phases. Neither team can afford to let one setback turn into several, and the response after a mistake could be just as important as the opening game plan. For New York, that means staying composed if the Raiders score early and making sure frustration does not dictate the next decision.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets vs. Raiders: 5 things to watch for in Week 8
