Our expert Jets vs. Cowboys predictions
Without Aaron Rodgers going forward, the New York Jets now head to the Lone Star State as they face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium.
It was the worst-case scenario as the Jets’ Monday night season opener began against the Buffalo Bills as Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles after being sacked on just their fourth offensive play.
It was a roller coaster of emotions throughout the game, which ended on a high as the Jets prevailed in overtime on Xavier Gipson’s 65-yard punt return.
For the Cowboys, the regular season could not have started any better after their dominant 40-0 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football in Week 1.
Our prognosticators for Week 2 are: Art Stapleton (Giants/NFL writer, NorthJersey.com), Steve Edelson (columnist, APP.com), Vince Mercogliano (Rangers/NHL columnist, lohud.com), Brian Marron (digital producer, NorthJersey.com), Chris Iseman (Rutgers writer, NorthJersey.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, APP.com) and Dave Rivera (sports editor, USA Today Northeast/ NorthJersey.com).
Here are our staff picks for Jets vs. Cowboys on Sunday:
Art Stapleton
The Cowboys could not have looked any better in Week 1, dismantling the Giants in every way possible. The Jets are coming in off an emotional roller coaster, and while the defense is elite, and should give Dak Prescott more resistance than the Giants did after falling behind by so much early, I can’t think of a worse first game for Zach Wilson as Aaron Rodgers’ successor than this one. Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are licking their chops.
The pick: Cowboys 20, Jets 10.
Dave Rivera
We would have all loved to see Aaron Rodgers take on the same Cowboys defense that mauled Daniel Jones and the Giants. Instead, it’s Zach Wilson going against Dallas, and that will be a lot to handle for the still-young quarterback. Of course the Jets have a great defense of their own, so they’ll hang around for a while.
The pick: Cowboys 24, Jets 13
Vince Mercogliano
What a gut punch the Aaron Rodgers injury is for a franchise that’s endured so many of them over the years, but you had to be impressed with the resilience the Jets showed on Monday night. I’m not in the camp who believes all hope is lost without No. 8 − there’s too much talent on this roster to wave the white flag − but it’ll be a tall order to regroup in a short week against a Dallas defense that looks ferocious.
The pick: Cowboys 16, Jets 13
Bob Jordan
Where’s Mike White when you need him?
The pick: Cowboys 14, Jets 10
Brian Marron
With the shaky offensive line and Zach Wilson looking much like he did last season, it’s hard to envision the Jets going into Dallas and producing any significant offense. The Jets’ defense is phenomenal, but it still took forcing four turnovers and returning a punt for a touchdown to get past the Bills. The Cowboys defense pitches another shutout in a game that gets out of hand by halftime.
The pick: Cowboys 20, Jets 0
Steve Edelson
So that happened. Now the Jets turn to Zach Wilson, with an 8-14 career record, who has more picks than TDs and completes 55 percent of his passes, to save the season. In Dallas, against a defense that pitched a shutout at the Meadowlands.
The pick: Dallas 17, Jets 7
Chris Iseman
Last week I predicted that Aaron Rodgers would lead the Jets to a big season-opening victory. That prediction went poorly. Anyway, I know what Robert Saleh and the Jets are saying about Zach Wilson. But we’ve seen this show before. The Jets defense will put up a fight, but the offense won’t match it.
The pick: Cowboys 21, Jets 10