The Atlanta Falcons (5-6) are traveling to play against the New York Jets this Sunday as both teams attempt to remain in the playoff hunt.

Just last week, the Falcons ended a three-game losing skid by beating its division rival, the New Orleans Saints, and reclaimed the top seed in the NFC South.

Like the Jets, the Falcons have been victims of bad QB play this season behind both Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Ridder was benched earlier this season after turnover issues proved to be a consistent problem but has since regained the starting job.

The Jets defense won’t overlook Desmond Ridder because they have seen how good he can be. Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who was part of the staff that coached Ridder at the 2022 Senior Bowl, has been delivering a message not to sleep on the Falcons quarterback.

“Just really letting the guys know that this guy is a real guy,” Ulbrich said. “I know he hasn’t played a ton of ball yet, and he’s not one of the more established quarterbacks in this league, but I was so impressed with him at the Senior Bowl. His command, his leadership, his intelligence. I think that he’s a winner, and he’s proven that.”

Ridder was also a college teammate of Sauce Gardner who went 44-6 as four-year starter for Cincinnati. “We are texting here and there, for sure,” Gardner said. “That was my guy in college, so that’s a bond that’s going to last forever.”

The Jets will once again turn to Tim Boyle to lead an offense that ranks 30^th in points scored this season. Starting Boyle again, who hasn’t been good even going back to his college career, is a head scratching move for the Jets. From 2013 to 2015 at UConn, he recorded a 15.8 QBR. That ranked 251st out of 251 quarterbacks with at least 200 pass attempts in that span.

Entering this season, Boyle's career QBR in the pros was 27.7. Against the Miami Dolphins in last week, he posted a 4.6 QBR which was good enough for dead last of all QBs. The Jets had to bench Zach Wilson, but like we all know since the off season, Boyle was never going to be the answer.

The Jets need to make the move to Trevor Siemian. I want to stress again, that Siemian is not the savior of the Jets, or even the savior until Aaron Rodgers is on the field again, but he is the best option the Jets currently have available to them.

The leash on Tim Boyle must be shorter this week than it was last week, and the Jets will need to yank Boyle while they still have a cohesive locker room. Players don’t want to lose and while I still have faith the Robert Saleh can hold the locker room together; there’s only so much a coach can do.

Garrett Wilson has already voiced his displeasure this week. “I’m still not over (the loss). I’m not going to fake it. I hate losing,” Wilson said. “As far as what I can give and how I go about my business, it’s not like I can think about it too much.”

Wilson will look to bounce back against a Falcons defense that features two really strong corners. Jeff Okudah who was Wilson’s former Ohio State teammate, and A.J. Terrell.

“Probably the most aggressive corners I have seen all year,” offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said. “They are press, up in your face … so I think that is going to be a great challenge for our wide receivers to have to go against man coverage.”

The Falcons will look to shut down Garrett Wilson and prevent a home run from Jets star running back Breece Hall, while trying to get their own star running back, Bijan Robinson going on offense. Robinson is has over 700 yards rushing to go along with 240 yards receiving and six total touchdowns

The one advantage the Jets have on their side is the home field advantage. Of the Falcons’ five wins, just one has come on the road, and it was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7. The Jets will look to lean on their stellar defense, the home crowd and the right arm of Tim Boyle to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

MetLife Stadium: More NFL players speak up on ‘trash’ turf

Another week, another major injury on the MetLife field turf. This time, it was Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who like Aaron Rodgers, tore his Achilles. Phillips was having a great season for a Dolphins defense that was coming into its own and starting to play really well, lately. The turf has been under fire […]

Featured Image via Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK