Key Matchup That Could Decide Rivalry Game between Jets and Giants

Gang Green's vaunted defensive front stacks up well against Big Blue's banged-up offensive line

This game will be won or lost in the trenches. That's how Sports Illustrated sees the Week 8 battle between the New York Jets and New York Giants on October 29 at MetLife Stadium. 

Identifying important in-game matchups across the league, SI scribe Matthew Verderame zoomed in on a key battle between the Jets' defensive front and the Giants' offensive line.

The Giants have been susceptible to the opposing pass rush this season and have been repeatedly banged up on the offensive line to boot. Big Blue has deployed seven different O-line combinations in its first seven games while accounting for the NFL's worst sack percentage. The Giants have allowed sacks on 16.02 percent of pass attempts. 

"Those guys all make money. They're all in NFL and they all start," said Jets' defensive end John Franklin-Myers. "We got a challenge ahead of ourselves and Tyrod [Taylor] doesn't make it any easier."

Giants' quarterback Daniel Jones was sacked 28 times over five starts, but Tyrod Taylor has been a little better remaining on his feet in relief of the injured starter. In two-plus games, Taylor has taken eight sacks.

Meanwhile, the Jets has managed to record multiple sacks in only three of six games.

"Personally, I just gotta get the dude down. I've had too many instances where I just couldn't get him down or didn't get him down, just unacceptable," said Franklin-Myers, who is tied for the team lead in quarterback hits (8).

Despite ranking 24th overall amongst NFL team leaders in sacks (13), the Jets' defense has made a habit of harassing opposing passers. They forced Josh Allen (3), Jalen Hurts (3) and Patrick Mahomes (2) into a combined eight interceptions this season.

"We want pressure on the quarterback. We want hits and we want him to feel us, but it has to be in a sack," said Franklin-Myers.

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From Matchups That Will Decide Week 8 in the NFL:

New York Jets (3-3) at New York Giants (2-5)

Key matchup: Giants’ offensive line against the Jets’ front four

It’s been a brutal start to the season for the Giants, especially up front. They’ve allowed a league-worst 13.4% of dropbacks to become sacks.

Yet while the Jets rank third in pressure rate (28.5%) they only sack the opposing passer 5.7% of pass attempts, checking in 22nd across the NFL.

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Three of the Giants' five starting offensive linemen have an injury designation heading into Sunday's game. Tackle Andrew Thomas is doubtful. Center John Michael Schmitz and tackle Evan Neal are questionable.

"I think they are getting the ball out a little bit faster, a little bit more quarterback movement, a little bit more chip, a little bit of change of protections, a little bit of all that stuff," said Jets' defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on what has seemingly been the Giants' strategy to mitigate the opposing pass rush following the injuries. 

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