Jets (5-8) at Ravens (11-2)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore TV: Fox, NFL Network
Danny Sheridan’s line: Ravens by 14 ⁄2
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Jets’ keys to victory: New York’s defense must continue to shut down the interior run. It will be a tough test against the Ravens’ top-ranked rushing attack, but it’s imperative for the Jets to get QB Lamar Jackson into third-andlong situations and force him to look downfield. On offense, the Jets need to be aggressive. That could mean going deep into the playbook, taking risks and not settling for field goals.
Ravens’ keys to victory: Consistency and clean play on both sides of the ball are the most important aspects of the game for Baltimore. If the Ravens protect the ball and limit their penalties, it’s difficult to see how the Jets can keep this game close. Defensively, Baltimore needs to shut down RB Le’Veon Bell both on the ground and through the air, where he’s hurt them in previous games as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Matchup to watch: Jets RB Le’Veon Bell vs. Ravens S Chuck Clark. Bell is New York’s most dynamic weapon on offense and, as Baltimore has seen before, he can take over a game if he gets into a good rhythm. It will be Clark’s job in coverage and on outside runs to limit the damage Bell can do. If Bell breaks off a few big plays, it could give the Jets the momentum they need to keep pace with the Ravens’ offense. But if Clark can stop him in the first half, Bell’s involvement might diminish after halftime if New York is playing catch-up.
Who wins? The Jets are in the middle of a rebuild, while the Ravens look like the league’s best team. The disparity in talent right now is far too large for New York.
Ravens, 30-17