Looking ahead to Lions' next opponent: New York Jets

Next up for the Detroit Lions is a road game against the New York Jets. Here's an early look at the Jets:

New York Jets (1-2)

Schedule so far

Week 1 - vs. Raiders - won, 19-14
Week 2 - at Packers - lost, 31-24
Week 3 - vs. Bears - lost, 27-19

Reason for optimism

The Jets do not have a very good passing offense. Geno Smith often doesn't look like he should be a starting quarterback in the NFL, and he seems prone to making mistakes on a pretty regular basis. The Jets do run the ball pretty well, but the Lions have been one of the best teams at stopping the run this season. They have also been quite good against the pass, and if they can put pressure on Smith, they could come away with several turnovers in this game.

Reason for pessimism

The Lions have struggled to get their run game going this season, and the Jets' biggest strength is stopping the run. They're not quite as good against the pass, but if they can make the Lions one-dimensional, that could present some problems in the passing game, especially if Matthew Stafford tries to force passes into tight coverage.

Storyline to watch

For the Jets, this is their third straight game against a team from the NFC North. They've lost the first two, so they will be looking to avoid a 0-3 record against that division so far this season.

For the Lions, the biggest storyline is the need to beat a team that seems inferior on paper. Losing on the road to the Carolina Panthers was at least understandable given how talented that team is, but the Jets have a lot of glaring weaknesses. If the Lions want to even think about contending for the NFC North title or a playoff spot, this is the type of game they have to win.

Additional info

For more on the Jets, check out Gang Green Nation.