And the meek shall inherit the first draft pick. Or not. When the Jets visit the Texans on Sunday, there are no playoff implications — or even dreams.
And the meek shall inherit the first draft pick. Or not. When the Jets visit the Texans on Sunday, there are no playoff implications — or even dreams. Both teams are 2-8, deservedly so. Yet the winner might eliminate itself from competition for the top overall spot in next April’s draft. Consider that Detroit and Jacksonville also are tail-enders with a solid shot at the NFL’s worst record, and either the Jets or Texans will move ahead of the other, barring a tie. Regardless, neither rookie coach, New York’s Robert Saleh nor Houston’s David Culley, is looking past the weak opposition this weekend. Because, of course, their clubs are equally feeble. “We’re 2-8. We played well enough to win, but we didn’t play as well as we need to play moving forward to win,” Culley says. “We’re not looking down on anybody. “It happens to be the Jets; the next team is the most important. You always want the win. You get the win, the thing is to get the win. That’s all we’re thinking about right now.” Houston actually got its second victory last week at AFC South leader Tennessee, which was plagued by injuries and turnovers. The Jets have a win over the Titans and one over the Bengals, both playoff contenders. Their other showings have ranged from somewhat competitive to downright dismal. Saleh looks at veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor as a threat. “Tyrod’s back and, you know, when Tyrod’s been the quarterback, they beat Jacksonville. I think they put 37 on them,” Saleh notes. “They were 14-14 at halftime with Cleveland in Week 2 before he gets hurt. He comes back against Miami and struggled a little bit, but then they beat Tennessee, so he’s clearly winning — and they’re winning football games with him under center. He is a problem.” As if the Jets don’t have enough of those. Ditto for the Texans. The traditional Thanksgiving Day games have Chicago (3-7) at Detroit (0-9-1), followed by Las Vegas (5-5) at Dallas (7-3). The night contest is Buffalo (6-4) at New Orleans (5-5). Off this week are Arizona (9-2, the NFL’s best record) and Kansas City (7-4). Los Angeles Rams (7-3) at Green Bay (8-3) At the other end of the standings spectrum from the Jets and Texans, two of the contenders for the top spot in the NFC meet at Lambeau Field. The Rams have lost three straight just once during Sean McVay’s five-year coaching tenure. In Cooper Kupp they have the league’s most productive receiver. Kupp has 85 catches for 1,141 yards to lead the NFL in both categories. His 10 touchdown receptions are tied for the lead with Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans. Aaron Rodgers is bothered by a toe injury, and the Packers are down to a third-string left tackle, Yosh Nijman, because of injuries. But the Packers join the Buccaneers as the only NFL teams that are undefeated at home this season. Green Bay has allowed just 44 points at Lambeau, the lowest total yielded through the first four Packers home games of a season since 1969. Tennessee (8-3) at New England (7-4) The Titans’ impressive winning string ended in the awful weather last weekend, while the Patriots extended their run to five straight wins by routing Atlanta. New England has a profitable habit of meeting opponents who are undermanned, and that could be the case again in this one. No team has come close to the 82 players who have been in at least one contest this season for Tennessee.
