Jets Should Prevail in MetLife Mediocre Bowl

The best thing about the Jets playing the Giants this Sunday is that the all-New York contest frees up a TV time slot for those locals who actually want to watch quality football.

Amazingly though, the 2015 Mediocre Bowl actually has big playoff implications for both teams. With a W, the Giants not only would climb to .500 -- hey, the bar is high around here! -- but would maintain at least a share of first place in the woefully woeful NFC East. Meanwhile, a Jets victory keeps the 6-5 Gang Green in solid position for a Wild Card berth as the season enters its stretch run.

The Jets are technically the visitors this weekend at MetLife Stadium, though home field advantage shouldn’t be too big of an edge for not-so-Big Blue, even though the place will likely be lousy with Giants fans.

While the “home team” has an IR list that’s starting to resemble the world’s biggest clown car, a Jets injury is the talk of the town. With formerly superb CB Darrelle Revis likely sidelined following the concussion he suffered suffered two weeks ago vs. Houston, the big question is who will cover the currently superb Odell Beckham, Jr.

Even when healthy, Revis looked dreadful in Houston, and time has clearly caught up with the future Hall of Famer. Meanwhile, Antonio Cromartie has played this year like he could be Revis’s great-granddad, Marcus Williams is also probably out and Dee Milliner -- you know, the ninth player chosen in the 2013 NFL Draft -- has been harder to find in the Meadowlands than Jimmy Hoffa.

Still, when it comes to Beckham, does it really matter who’s lining up against him? As we saw last week -- and not for the first time -- all Eli Manning has to do is throw the pigskin within a zip code or two of his favorite target and Beckham will come up with the catch.

If the second-year pro isn’t the best receiver in the game right now, he’s on a list about as short as the one featuring those who think whatever is sitting on Donald Trump’s head is flattering.

But here’s another question: who will cover Brandon Marshall? Again, does it matter? There are only a few corners in the league with the type of size and skills needed to slow down Marshall -- and none of them play for the Giants.

Ryan Fitzpatrick should be able to find his top receiver early and often, and if Chris Ivory is going to return to form, there aren’t many better opponents to do it against than the Giants, who rank last in the NFL in total yards allowed.

Now more than two-thirds into the season, this much is apparent: neither New York team is a world-beater -- except when it comes to beating themselves with boneheaded play. But the Jets are better -- even if they’re not the ones with the guy who can catch the ball one-handed -- and they should prove it on Sunday. 

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