Jets (5-4) at Broncos (4-5), 8:30 p.m. Eastern Thursday
Matchup to Watch: Tim Tebow vs. Jets’ defense
One can only imagine the defensive schemes Rex Ryan has concocted to foil Denver’s read-option offense, which ran the ball 55 times — and attempted but 8 passes — in Sunday’s victory in Kansas City. The Jets at times deployed seven defensive backs to thwart New England’s passing game; Ryan might send seven down linemen against Tim Tebow. Maybe that’s an exaggeration. But it will be a challenge for the Jets, who had a short week to prepare for a peculiar but effective style that suits Tebow. Jets safety Jim Leonhard said, “As inconsistent as he is throwing the football, all of a sudden he’ll make a throw where you look at it and go, ‘Wow, that was impressive.’ ”
Number to Watch: 22
The combined sacks (8) and quarterback knockdowns (14) amassed by Broncos linebacker Von Miller — the most in the N.F.L., according to ProFootballFocus.com. The Jets’ pass protection was dreadful against New England, yielding five sacks and nine hits of Mark Sanchez, against a team with a suspect pass rush. The Broncos, with the dynamic duo of Miller and Elvis Dumervil — dubbed “Batman and Robin” by Miller — wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Sustained pressure against Sanchez, who showed little sense of pocket presence Sunday night, could spell doom.
Quotation of the Week
“Well, it doesn’t make much sense. It’d be like buying a Ferrari and pouring sugar in the gas tank.”
Broncos Coach JOHN FOX, when asked whether he and John Elway, the team’s vice president for football operations, did not want Tim Tebow to succeed because they did not draft him.
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