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New York Jets secondary will face a big test against the Texans receivers

ByAlan Schechter|
DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Houston Texans (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Houston Texans (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

There are some obvious matchups when the New York Jets take on the Houston Texans on Saturday, but one not so obvious is the secondary vs. the WRs.

Coming off of a come from behind win in Buffalo, theNew York Jetscome back to the tri-state for some home cooking as they welcomeDeshaun Watson,J.J. Wattand the rest of the Houston Texans to MetLife for a Saturday battle in week 15.

At 9-4, the Texans hold a two game lead in the AFC South and are currently the third seed in the AFC playoffs.

We know what the Jets are. There isn’t much need for discussion there, am I right?

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Despite all of that, there are intriguing matchups in this game.

We have two of the new wave of quarterbacks battling it out for the first time in Deshaun Watson andSam Darnold.

If we are lucky, these two will play meaningful December and January games in the future.

There is also the question of whether or not the Jets offensive line can stop Watt and the impressive Texans pass rush.

But one matchup isn’t talked about but is equally as interesting if not more.

The matchup is the Texans WRs against the Jets defensive backs.

Houston, frankly, is loaded.

It starts withDeAndre Hopkins, of course. With three games still to play, Hopkins has posted 84 receptions for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns. He is averaging 88.5 yards per game.

Hopkins has only faced the Jets once, but it was that day in 2015 when he torchedDarrelle Revisup and down the field to the tune of five catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

If he isn’t enough, they addedDemaryius Thomasat the trade deadline. In eight games against the Jets he has averaged over 75 yards per contest.

Now is he on the wrong side of 30 and heading towards the end? Sure, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a great secondary threat.

Add 503 yards and four touchdowns fromWill Fullerand 287 yards fromKeke Couteeand you have quite the lethal group of weapons for Watson to work with.

We know that the Jets have not been great against the pass this year,ranked 16thin the league coming into the game.

However, they have been better lately.Trumaine Johnsonhas picked off three passes in his last two games. The team has allowed 232.5 yards per game through the air over the last two games. That number sustained all year would have put them just outside of the top ten.

Johnson,Morris Claiborneand friends have a big test coming up on Saturday afternoon. It will go a long way in determining the result.

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