Week 9 Preview: Jets at Chiefs

Photo courtesy of NY Post

OUT
Jets: QB Geno Smith (shoulder), CB Darrin Walls (calf/knee)

Chiefs: WR Donnie Avery (groin), CB Jamell Fleming (hamstring), LB Josh Martin (hamstring), CB Chris Owens (knee)

DOUBTFUL
Jets: None

Chiefs: None

QUESTIONABLE
Jets: None

Chiefs: None

PROBABLE
Jets: OL Oday Aboushi (shoulder), CB Philip Adams (groin), LB Antwan Barnes (knee), G Willie Colon (knee), TE Jeff Cumberland (shoulder/finger), WR Eric Decker (hamstring), LB David Harris (shoulder), RB Chris Johnson (ankle), C Nick Mangold (shoulder), OLB Trevor Reilly (knee), WR Greg Salas (wrist/ankle), CB Darrin Walls (knee)

Chiefs: S Eric Berry (ankle), RB Jamaal Charles (back), TE Anthony Fasano (shoulder), CB Phillip Gaines (quadriceps), RB Cyrus Gray (hand), WR Junior Hemingway (hamstring), TE Travis Kelce (ribs), OL Mike McGlynn (foot), QB Alex Smith (shoulder), CB Sean Smith (groin)

The Geno Smith era is over...for now. 

The Jets have already come out and said that they may return to Smith as early as next week, and I don't disagree. They need to give him all the chances he can get through the end of the year. The season is shot, so why not play the young guy rather than Vick who has no chance to be a part of the long-term future. If Smith falls apart, then I guess it's Matt Simms time for the rest of the year. Vick may give the Jets the best chance to win from hereon out, but that doesn't matter anymore. Gang Green is a glorified minor league team right now, it's all about auditions for next season. 

As for this game, the Jets should keep it closer than expected. the Jets offense should be a lot better, by virtue of Michael Vick not being named Geno Smith, but the fact that he fumbled four times last week is a major issue. Having a full week of practice with the first team will help, however. 

But that's not why the Jets will keep the game relatively close. It's because their run defense will slow down Jamaal Charles and KC's running game, the biggest part of their offense.

There's still a lot of blowout potential, because the already awful secondary will be without Darrin Walls, so there may be a lot of Junior Hemingway running all over the field today. 


Bold and Unnecessary Predictions That I'm Making Anyway

•  The Jets will run for 150 yards. We all know not to trust any quarterback on this team, so they'll be handing it off constantly.

• Jamaal Charles will gain less than 100 yards. It will be tough to get much going against New York's defensive front. 

Jets (+9) over CHIEFS. 

Chiefs 23, Jets 16