New York @ Denver preview

N.Y. Jets at Denver

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2021 ) N.Y. Jets 0, Denver 26

When the NFL schedule was released and the Week 7 slate was revealed, no one would have been surprised if the New York Jets and Denver Broncos would sport opposite records.

What is surprising -- to some -- is the Jets (4-2) have the better record and are coming off an impressive road win. New York went to Lambeau Field last week and beat the Green Bay Packers 27-10 to get off to its best six-game start since 2015.

The Jets have a chance to top the 2015 team with a victory at Denver on Sunday afternoon, and if the early season is any indication, they have a solid chance to do that. Three of New York's four wins have come on the road, and it is averaging 27.3 points in those victories.

It is a big turnaround from the Jets' 1-7 mark on the road last season, which included a 26-0 loss against the Broncos in Week 3.

"Youth doesn't know any better," head coach Robert Saleh said. "Our guys get up, they play, they don't care about the venue. They just show up and they're having a good time. As I said, our guys don't flinch and there's no point in the game where they feel like the game is over. They keep fighting."

The Jets will do so without wide receiver Elijah Moore, who will be inactive against the Broncos after being sent home Thursday following a reported heated exchange with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. The second-year wideout also asked to be traded.

"We've had our discussions with Elijah. Trading him is not an option," Saleh said on Friday. "Elijah will not play this week. He is in the building, he is excused from meetings, but he's going through a workout. ... He'll re-join the team on Monday."

The Jets may find it tough to keep up the road scoring average against a stout Denver defense. The Broncos have given up one touchdown over the last two games despite missing key defensive pieces.

Denver's offense has been terrible for most of the season, and it has shown in the standings. The Broncos (2-4) are averaging 15.2 points a game this year and have scored only seven touchdowns in the six games.

By contrast, Peyton Manning threw seven TD passes in Denver's 2013 season opener alone.

Despite the poor offense, Denver is three plays away from being 5-1. The Broncos lost in overtime in Week 5, and a muffed punt in overtime at the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night led to another loss.

Add the missed opportunities in the opener and Denver is looking at another season without a playoff appearance unless things turn around.

That starts with quarterback Russell Wilson, who has missed wide-open receivers in the last two games that might have made a difference.

But Wilson has been ruled out for Sunday after suffering a hamstring injury Monday. He was limited in practice all week and is also playing through a shoulder injury, a partially torn lat muscle that recently required a platelet-rich plasma injection.

Backup Brett Rypien will start under center against the Jets after sharing the first-team reps with Wilson in practice this week. His only other NFL start was also against the Jets in 2020, when he completed 19 of 31 passes for 242 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in Denver's 37-28 victory.

Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett also said that Melvin Gordon III will be the starting running back. Gordon was effectively benched in the loss to the Chargers and Hackett had a talk with Gordon since that loss.

"I have so much respect for him as a pro and for all he's done in this league," Hackett said. "We'll keep all that stuff private in there."

The Broncos did lose outside linebacker Aaron Patrick to a torn ACL, but the hope is Josey Jewell can play soon to fill that gap. Jewell (knee) is questionable along with offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz (foot) and defensive linemen DeShawn Williams (back) and D.J. Jones (ankle). Cornerback Essang Bassey (hamstring) was ruled out and safety Caden Sterns (hip) is doubtful.

The Jets ruled out defensive end Jermaine Johnson II (ankle). Safety Ashtyn Davis (hamstring) is questionable.

--Field Level Media