Jets, Jaguars look to build on impressive wins
After getting its first win of the season last week, New York looks to get to .500 when it hosts Jacksonville.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars went overseas last weekend and impressed in front of a London crowd.
They’re back on the road this Sunday, this time without a transAtlantic flight, but trying to maintain the momentum they se t with a 44-7 rout of the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium.
“I think it’s huge,” Bortles said of potentially putting back-toback wins together. “We have to figure out how to win and win consistently and win in bunches.”
The Jaguars (2-1) will take on the New York Jets (1-2), who pulled off a stunner of their own last week with a 20-6 dominant victory over the Miami Dolphins.
So, Jacksonville knows this
won’t be an easy task at MetLife Stadium. The Jaguars opened with a terrific 29-7 win at Houston, but followed that with a 37-16 drubbing against Tennessee.
“I think we had a big game in Week 1 and had a letdown Week 2,” Bortles said. “And then we bounced back and were able to get back on track Week 3 and we have to be able to show we can continue that and make it consistent and do it week in and week out.”
For a team that many wondered if it would win even one game because of its offseason roster overhaul, the Jets are also looking to get off to a surprising start in front of a home crowd.
“I was in a situation last year in Cleveland where that dragged out for some time,” said quarterback Josh McCown, who was on the Browns’ 1-15 team.
“So it’s a good feeling to get that first one out of the way, and hopefully it’s something that you can grab some momentum with and go get more.”
Here are some things to know as the Jaguars and Jets square off for the 13th time, with the series tied 6-6 — including a playoff victory by New York in 1999:
ROAD FAVORITES
The Jaguars ended a nearly six-year streak of being road underdogs.
Jacksonville opened as 4½-point favorites , the first
time it hasn’t been a road dog since Nov. 13, 2011, at winless Indianapolis. The Jaguars, who won that one 17-3, haven’t won consecutive road games since 2013.
“To be a good team, you have to play to your standard regardless of who you’re facing or the circumstances you’re in,” tight end Marcedes Lewis said. “It’s a must-win for us. We’re not going up there thinking no other way. We have to win this game.”
COULD’VE BEEN YOU
Jaguars coach Doug Marrone was a prime candidate for the then-vacant Jets coaching job in 2015 after New York fired Rex Ryan.
Marrone exercised an out clause in his contract in Buffalo and left his job as coach of the Bills. He was considered a favorite for the Jets’ top spot and interviewed with New York — which opted instead to hire Todd Bowles.