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As you know by now, MetLife Stadium will hosting the World Cup next summer, with eight games taking place in the East Rutherfold venue, including the final on July 19. There will be a total of eight World Cup Matches in that stadium.
Before the Jets-Steelers game in Week 1, I was chatting with some security people outside the stadium, and brought up how there seems to be more concerts in the venue then ever before. They have always had concerts, but there seems like a real explosion the last couple of years of these mega-shows at the 82,500 seat football stadium, including Zach Bryan (three nights), Oasis (two nights) and Beyonce (five nights). There were others like the Jonas Brothers, but I’m not going to go over the whole list, but you get the idea.
So talking to the security people, I was saying how great it’s been for all the Stadium workers getting all this extra work.
And then I found out something I didn’t know. After the football, the stadium is going to be closed for several months of renovations leading up to the World Cup in the summer. FIFA is taking it over, and doing some renovations. Obviously, the grass fields is one part, but other things as well, like adding four new cornerstone video boards with 8MM high-resolution LED for higher-contrast. The entire renovation plan isn’t clear, but the bottom line is no mega-concerts in 2026 until after the World Cup, so MetLife Stadium workers will have less work for a 3-4 month period. Obviously there aren’t concerts in the winter, even after the season . . .
If the Jets are going to have a chance to win this game, it’s very simple, they have got to clean up the coverage miscommunications. You give the reigning league MVP wide open layouts, it’s going to be hard to beat the Bills.
What are layups? Here are three from last week, examples of the kind of scenarios that need to be handled better.
As per usual, I will offer the caveat that I don’t know who was at fault on these three plays without having access to the player
In the first quarter, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek caught a 22-yard TD from Aaron Rodgers. He was wide open crossing the field.
Rodgers faked handoff to Jalen Warren, Michael Carter and Jamien Sherwood both took a step up to handle the runer, and Skoroneck crossed behind them, from left to right, and Rodgers hit him for the TD. Once again, I have absolutely no idea if this was the fault of either Andre Cisco and Quincy Williams were also in the vicinity. Who knows – the bottom is it can’t happen.
Another one. In the second quarter – Rodgers hit WR Calvin Austin on a crossing route for 30-yards. Carter was covering him initially, but then tight end Jonnu Smith flashed open running from the middle to the right sideline, and Carter went over to him. It looked like maybe Sherwood should have stayed with Smith, so Carter could have handled Austin. But once again, don’t know for sure, but that is what it looked like.
Last example was in the third quarter, when DK Metcalf got wide open for a gain of 18. It looked like there was come confusion in the zone. It looked like that Sherwood and Brandon Stephens both covered Austin, and nobody covered Metcalf. Once again, not blaming either man because I didn’t see the game plan, but that is what looked like on the service.
Look, as they say, the other team gets paid too, and they will make their share of plays. Like Austin catching a 21-yard fade route on Stephens late the second quater. Hey, it’s going to happen.
I’m talking about the need for the Jets pass defense to eliminate the lay-ups. No excuse for those, and with Allen coming to town, they better clean that up . . .
It would be shocking if the Jets don’t have another big game on the ground, coming off their 182-yard performance against Pittsburgh.
The Bills will be without standout defensive tackle tackle Ed Oliver, so rookie T.J. Sanders will get a lot of work. The Jets interior line is experience, powerful and massive led by Joe Tippmann and Josh Myers, and could present a big challenge for the rookie.
Also, the Bills linebackers are talented, but undersized, and you saw what Derrick Henry did to the Buffalo front seven last week, so the Jets power rushing attack could be poised for another strong outing.
September 12, 2025
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