Jets vs. Cardinals -- Week 13
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (field turf, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Spread: Jets by 4.5
Forecast: Cloudy. Temperature in the low 50s.
Records: Jets (Overall: 4-7, AFC East: 2-3); Cardinals (Overall:4-7,, NFC West: 1-3)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- September 28, 2008: Jets 56, Cardinals 35; November 28, 2004: Jets 13, Cardinals 3. Series record: Jets 5-2.
What matters: Turnovers. The Jets can’t have them. On Thanksgiving night, the Jets turned the ball over five times. The rule of thumb always has been that the team that turns the ball over fewer times wins. The Jets are near the bottom of the league in in this category with 22 fumbles and 12 lost. (By contrast, at the top of the NFL, is Baltimore with eight fumbles, two lost.)
Who matters: QB Mark Sanchez. The Cardinals have the seventh-ranked defense in the NFL, including a stout front seven and an active secondary. They bring non-stop pressure and are fourth in the league in sacks with 30, so Sanchez will have to be sharp and get rid of the ball fast.
Key matchups: The Jets' wide receivers vs. the Cardinals secondary. Arizona is ranked fourth overall in pass defense. The Jets' passing game is ranked 28th in the NFL. Add to that the fact that the Jets' receiving corps has been revolving all season and they are going to have to bring their A+ game. As it is, WR Clyde Gates (concussion) is likely not going to play and WR Jeremy Kerley, who has been battling a heel injury and a hamstring injury, now has an illness. WR Chaz Schilens is listed with a concussion and a hip injury, but he has practiced. That leaves WR Stephen Hill, who has been plagued by drops, and WR Jordan White, who was elevated to the active roster barely two weeks ago and has not yet had a catch.
Injuries of note: Backup QB Tim Tebow is still recovering from cracked ribs. WR Clyde Gates is expected to be out with a concussion.
Inside stuff: Tebow, although medically cleared, did not play against the Patriots because of his cracked ribs. Coach Rex Ryan wasn’t comfortable putting him in unless it was an emergency. The team was criticized for activating him, rather than having third-string QB Greg McElroy available. Tebow has had almost 10 days to heal, and Ryan indicated that he would likely be active again, but it’s not clear how close he is to 100 percent. Tebow was limited in practice all week.
Connections: Jets WR Chaz Schilens and Cardinals WR Quentin Groves played with the Raiders in 2010 and 2011. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt played tight end and H-back for the Jets from 1991-1993 and then served as tight ends coach in 2000. Cardinals S Kerry Rhodes was drafted by the Jets in 2005 and played for the Jets through 2009. Jets LB Calvin Pace was the first-round pick of the Cardinals in 2003. Cardinals K Jay Feely played for the Jets in 2008 & 2009.
Stat you should know: The Jets and the Cardinals are both near the bottom of the NFL in overall offense. The Jets are ranked 28th while the Cardinals are ranked 31st.
Looking ahead: At 4-7, the Jets need to run the table to have even a remote shot at making the playoffs. A win against Arizona would keep them clinging to those hopes. A loss almost certainly would be the end of the line for them.
Prediction: Jets 17, Cardinals 14
Stay dialed in on the New York Jets by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter @CBSJets and@LisaZimmerman.