The New York Jets took many by surprise Tuesday when they fired coach Robert Saleh after the team’s 2-3 start. Now, under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich – and with a new play caller taking over in Todd Downing – Gang Green will try to salvage the season beginning Monday, when it hosts the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills.
But there are sure to be many juicy stories before that divisional match wraps up the week. In a year partially defined by a historic class of rookie quarterbacks, two more first-year signal-callers are set to make their starting debuts on Sunday: the New England Patriots’ Drake Maye, who will face a tall task against the Houston Texans’ formidable defense, and the New Orleans Saints’ Spencer Rattler, a fifth-round pick who will be filling in for the injured Derek Carr against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And when it comes to 2024 draft picks, no one has stood out more than Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. On Sunday, he might finally meet his match in reigning MVP Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens.
Here are bold predictions for Week 6 from USA TODAY Sports’ NFL staff:
Drake Maye will rush for more yards than … Jayden Daniels
Hey, it’s about matchups and survival. Daniels has demonstrated much spark as the multi-dimensional threat for the Washington Commanders. The rookie ranks fourth in the NFL for pass efficiency and among quarterbacks, only Lamar Jackson has run for more yards (363) than Daniels at an even 300. Yet on Sunday, when Maye, 22, the youngest of the six first-round rookie quarterbacks, makes his long-awaited starting debut for the Patriots, he’ll actually run for more yards than Daniels. Maye, remember, is breaking in behind a young, suspect O-line in rebuilding mode, which is why New England has yielded the second-most sacks in the NFL (19), exceeded only by the 26 given up by the Browns. Jacoby Brissett absorbed 49 hits behind that line in his five starts for the Pats. So, Maye, who averaged more than 40 rushing yards per game at North Carolina, could be running for his life against a Texans defense that brings a formidable pass-rushing element. Daniels, meanwhile, may have fewer cracks of daylight to run through against the Ravens, who rank No. 1 in the league against the run. It’s a good thing for Daniels that he can attack both ways, because the Ravens also bring a pass defense that is ranked next-to-last in the NFL for yards allowed.
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— Jarrett Bell
Jets use big ‘MNF’ win to fuel deep postseason run
We are going big picture with this one because I have earned that right. With Microsoft Teams message receipts to prove it, I said in August that Spencer Rattler would be starting for the New Orleans Saints by Week 6. The time has arrived, and with Derek Carr suffering an oblique injury, the rookie is making his debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
For my next trick: The Jets will play well enough and go deep enough into the playoffs for Jeff Ulbrich to become the full-time head coach of the organization. Owner Woody Johnson is apparently a fan of Ulbrich. He played in the league for a decade, and the word “beloved” has been used in reports of how Jets players and personnel view him. If the Jets can win the AFC East and win a postseason game or two, I think Ulbrich will have done more than enough to remove the interim tag and move into the big office for good.
That “Gang Green” fever dream begins with a key primetime matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Monday. With new offensive play caller Todd Downing at the helm, the Jets offense will finally feature some imagination to erupt against a beleaguered but well-coached Bills defense. A decisive win would go a long way in making all of the above a reality.
— Chris Bumbaca
Battle of DMV will produce over 400 combined rushing yards
The Ravens and Commanders rank first and second, respectively, in rushing offense this season. Baltimore’s rushed for at least 100 yards in 38 consecutive games, tied for the third-longest such streak in NFL history. The Commanders lead the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns entering Week 6. Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels are both averaging over 225 passing yards and 50 rushing yards per game. I expect both quarterbacks to showcase their electric dual-threat ability in what should be an exciting showdown between two neighboring teams. However, I believe it’ll be running back Derrick Henry who will ultimately propel Baltimore to victory. Henry was contained for much of last week, until his 51-yard rumble put the Ravens in position to connect on a game-winning field goal in overtime. The bulldozing running back leads the NFL with 572 rushing yards, and he also has an NFL-high seven runs of at least 20 yards.
— Tyler Dragon
The Lions will throw a score to a lineman against the Cowboys, and it will count this time
OK, so this is mostly an unserious prediction. But let’s have some fun.
The Detroit Lions might still be miffed about the controversial conclusion of last year’s Week 17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, in which left tackle Taylor Decker’s would-be go-ahead two-point conversion reception was negated amid an apparent miscommunication regarding who reported as eligible prior to the play. While Dan Campbell stopped short of ripping the refs for the call, he made it clear that he had outlined the team’s plans to officials before the game.
While many envisioned a possible rematch in the playoffs, the Cowboys’ flameout in the wild-card round left Sunday as the first time these squads will square off against one another since that memorable finish. Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson don’t seem like the types to get wrapped up in sending messages, but what a flourish it what be if Detroit could take another crack at rewarding their tone-setting front with a scoring strike. Before then, though, Decker and Co. likely will have to play some bully ball to rough up a Dallas run defense that still ranks 23rd in the NFL despite its progress the last two weeks.
— Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz