New York @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2019 ) Philadelphia 0, N.Y. Jets 6

The New York Jets exited their bye week with more questions than answers, perhaps the most pressing of which centers around the availability of Sam Darnold for Sunday's game against the host Philadelphia Eagles. The second-year quarterback is awaiting the results of tests on his spleen to learn if he'll be cleared to play as he works his way past his Week 2 diagnosis of mononucleosis.

"I like our odds better than what they've been," New York coach Adam Gase told reporters in reference to Darnold being under center on Sunday. "Last week, if we would've been playing again, I would've said it's very low. I like the fact that things have looked and progressed in the right direction. But I don't know what that five percent is. There's some gray still there." Gang Green has been beaten black and blue to start the season, following a season-opening loss to Buffalo with consecutive lopsided setbacks against Cleveland and New England with Luke Falk at the helm. The Jets also have dropped all 10 regular-season meetings with the Eagles, who avoided a third straight defeat after quarterback Carson Wentz and running back Jordan Howard each recorded three touchdowns in a 34-27 victory at Green Bay on Sept. 26. Wentz has posted multi-touchdown performances in 26 of his first 44 career games, with only Hall-of-Famers Dan Marino (33), Kurt Warner (30) and Johnny Unitas (27) recording more in that span.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Eagles -13.5. O/U: 44

ABOUT THE JETS (0-3): Remember Le'Veon Bell's 9-yard touchdown reception from Darnold in the third quarter of New York's 17-16 loss to Buffalo on Sept. 8? Well, it is the team's lone offensive score this season as New York joins this year's Miami squad as the first clubs to own that distinction through the first month of the season since the 2009 Cleveland Browns. Bell has rushed for just 2.9 yards per carry behind an offensive line that has the third-highest combined salary in the league, according to ESPN Roster Management. "I would just say this: All those guys know that we're coming in this week, we're competing and we're going to put the five guys that we think give us our best chance out there," Gase said of the offensive line. "(I'm) not really sure who that's going to be quite yet." Bell's 20 catches are tied for the team lead with slot receiver Jamison Crowder, who has made just six for 65 yards in the absence of Darnold.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (2-2): Howard (87 yards) joined rookie running back Miles Sanders (career-high 72) in igniting a rushing attack that produced 176 yards versus the Packers, a total that served as the highest for Philadelphia since it ran for 215 against Dallas on Nov. 19, 2017. "You've got the quicks (with Sanders) and then you've got the pound with Howard," nine-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters told reporters. "They complement each other real well." Alshon Jeffery has meshed well with Wentz, reeling in a touchdown reception in three of his last four games, while tight end Zach Ertz is no stranger to the quarterback with team-high totals in catches (24), targets (38) and receiving yards (255) despite failing to reach the end zone in the first four games. Philadelphia's secondary took a major hit against Green Bay, as Sidney Jones (hamstring) has been limited in practice this week while fellow cornerback Avonte Maddox (concussion/neck) likely will sit out versus New York.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Philadelphia has scored a touchdown on each of its last seven trips to the red zone while New York has allowed points on each of its opponent's last 51 treks through the same area.

2. Jets LB C.J. Mosley is in line to miss his third straight game with a groin injury sustained in the second half of the season opener.

3. The Eagles acquired LB Duke Riley and a sixth-round draft pick in 2020 from Atlanta for S Johnathan Cyprien earlier this week.

PREDICTION: Eagles 24, Jets 17