Dec 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) runs past Tennessee Titans corner back B.W. Webb (38) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Titans 30-8. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
New York Jets (8-5) at Dallas Cowboys (4-9)
Saturday, 8:25 p.m. ET, at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas – TV: NFL Network
*TV announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson
*Keys to the game: The Jets bring the No. 1 run defense in the league (78.9 yards per game) to Jerry World, and that likely means QB Matt Cassel and the Cowboys have to find a way to win without using their greatest strength. Dallas averages only 17.7 points per game and without Tony Romo has been held under 20 points four games in a row. That’s because Cassel can’t stretch the field – a proposition complicated with CB Darrelle Revis back and WR Dez Bryant looking less than full strength — and the Cowboys are being stifled in almost every critical area: Dallas ranks in the NFL’s bottom five in points, red zone efficiency, third-down rate, passing offense and total offense.
The Jets put 16 players on their Wednesday injury report, but QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (thumb) should have his full complement of skill players.
Fitzpatrick has nine touchdowns passes and zero interceptions in his past three games and New York has the personnel to push the ball downfield with RB Chris Ivory averaging 4.7 yards per carry since his 23-carry, 26-yard effort against Jacksonville. Dallas’ ragged defense was whipped for 230 rushing yards last week. C Nick Mangold isn’t 100 percent but expected to play, which could mean a long day for the Cowboys’ second-level defenders.
*Matchup to watch – Cowboys RB Darren McFadden vs. Jets S Calvin Pryor: Pryor is a crash-test safety and won’t slow up against the downhill running of McFadden, the source of Dallas’ two biggest plays – both long runs – at Green Bay last week. But because the game was lopsided, he gained his 111 yards on just nine carries.
*Player spotlight – Cowboys WR Terrence Williams: With only one catch of 20-plus yards at home – a 21-yarder Week 1 against the Giants – Williams hasn’t stretched the field or taken off as the sidekick to Bryant. He could get looks as Cassel searches for an outlet facing the Jets’ blitz schemes.
*Fast facts: The Cowboys have allowed 10 or more points in the fourth quarter seven times in 13 games. … Opponents are 11-for-44 on third down conversations vs. the Jets in the past three games.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
With Darrelle Revis in the fold and a Jets defense near full strength, the Cowboys are smothered for three quarters before picking up a few courtesy points with the Jets’ regulars watching from the sideline.
*Our pick: Jets 27-13
