Detroit Lions keys to NFL victory against New York Jets

The Detroit Lions (6-7) will sq. off with the New York Jets (7-6) in an extremely essential Week 15 sport Sunday. 

The Lions have to win the competition so as to maintain their playoff odds trending in the correct path. 

With out additional ado, listed below are three issues Detroit must do, so as to come out on high Sunday at MetLife Stadium. 

Drive Zach Wilson to beat you 

The second-year passer has struggled all season lengthy, and in reality, was benched earlier this yr in favor of Mike White. Nevertheless, with White now harm (fractured ribs), Wilson has been tabbed to start out in his place.

Wilson, the No. 2 total choose within the 2021 NFL Draft, has thrown for simply 4 touchdowns in seven video games this season. Moreover, he is accounted for a similar variety of complete touchdowns (4 passing and one dashing), as he has interceptions (5). 

Moreover, he has accomplished solely 55.6 % of his passes (identical as his profession share), and has produced a subpar QBR of 43.2 (the seventh-worst QBR within the NFL in 2022).

It is all of the extra motive why Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn must power Wilson to win the Week 15 contest for the Jets. If Detroit correctly executes this gameplan, it’s greater than seemingly going to prevail victorious Sunday.

Get the bottom sport again on observe

The Lions’ run sport hasn’t precisely been a high-performing unit in latest weeks.

Over the previous three weeks, Detroit, actually, has produced a complete of simply 330 yards on the bottom, equating to 110 dashing yards a contest.

This comes after the Lions gathered a minimum of 139 complete dashing yards, and ran for 164 yards per contest in every of their first 4 video games.

“We’ve received to get higher in our run sport,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell informed reporters Monday. “We have now to have higher run effectivity on offense. That’s a particular. It doesn’t imply we’ve got to run the ball extra. It means we must be way more environment friendly, and we will be (that) with (the) guys we’ve received up entrance, our tight ends, our backs, the whole lot.”

Moreover, every week in the past in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, for those who take away C.J. Moore’s 42-yard run (which got here off a faux punt), you will discover that Detroit amassed simply 92 yards on the bottom.

In the meantime, Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift, the Lions’ high two backs, rushed for a mixed 58 yards, on 22 carries, within the aforementioned Week 14 divisional tilt. It comes out to an underwhelming 2.6 yards per carry.

Truthful to say, Detroit wants to determine way more of a presence on the bottom Sunday, in opposition to a Jets protection that has allowed the fifth-fewest yards per dashing try (4.1 yards) in 2022.

Restrict the Jets’ run sport

Piggybacking off the primary key to victory, that is maybe the most important recipe for achievement in opposition to New York.

Particularly, the secret’s to carry the Jets to beneath 90 complete dashing yards. Within the 5 video games the place they’ve been this season, they’ve gone winless. In stark distinction, within the eight video games the Robert Saleh-led squad has gathered north of 90 dashing yards, New York has gone 7-1.

In the meantime, Detroit has restricted three of its previous 4 opponents to beneath 95 dashing yards, and has received every of these three contests.

If the Lions are ready to try this Sunday and are in a position to maintain Wilson at bay (possibly even power a turnover), it’s going to enormously enhance the probabilities of Campbell’s group capturing the Week 15 victory.