Preview, prediction, what to watch for in Week 7

An inside look at Sunday’s Jets-Panthers NFL Week 7 matchup at MetLife Stadium:

Marquee matchup

Jets offensive line vs. Panthers front seven

Much of the blame for the nine sacks against the Broncos fell on quarterback Justin Fields, but the offensive line also was at fault.

The line, which entered the league with high expectations, has struggled the past two weeks. The Broncos held the Jets to 82 total yards last week with the offense unable to establish anything in the passing or running game.

The good news for the Jets is the Panthers don’t have much of a pass rush.

Carolina has a league-low five sacks and is last in the league in pass rush win rate (27.2 percent), according to ESPN. The Panthers have been better against the run, led by tackle Derrick Brown in the middle of their defense.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn praised the way his line has played this year.

“I really like where our guys are at, I really do,” Glenn said. “But just like any other team, just like any other player, there’s room for improvement. And I think, you know, from last week, there was some things that we’ve got to improve on when it comes to the pressures and things like that. But there are some weeks I thought we were very dominant as an offensive line, and we have to get back to that as much as we can.”

Four downs

Rico Suave: The Panthers have run all over their past two opponents thanks to the emergence of running back Rico Dowdle.

He has gained 389 rushing yards and 473 yards from scrimmage, which are both franchise records for two consecutive games.

Carolina will get back starter Chuba Hubbard this week from a calf injury, so it will be interesting to see how coach Dave Canales handles Dowdle’s work load.

“I think he’s earned everything that he’s done in the last two weeks,” Canales said of Dowdle. “He’s earned the right to help this team, and he will. We’ll find a way to do that. How we do that specifically, I don’t want to really share those details of it.”

No G. Force: The Jets are expected to be without star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who injured his knee last week against the Broncos.

Wilson has been a huge part of the offense all season. He leads the team with 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns.

The Jets will now turn to a receiving corps of Josh Reynolds, Arian Smith, Allen Lazard and Tyler Johnson in the passing game.

“It’s next man up,” offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said. “And again, they are all professional football players and they’re all here for a reason, and we’ve got the utmost confidence in any of the guys that need to step up if those two players are not available to go on ahead and get the job done.”

Hall pass: Breece Hall did not have one target in the passing game last week. It was just the second time in his career that happened. With no Wilson, the Jets need to get the ball in Hall’s hands as much as possible.

Coach Aaron Glenn said they needed Hall to stay in for pass protection against a tough Broncos pass rush last week.

“That’s something that we look at every week, and does it always work to that point? No, it doesn’t,” Glenn said of throwing the ball to Hall. “Sometimes we’ve got to keep him in protection, so he’s not able to get out in a route and be able to receive some of those passes we want to get to him. But it’s always important to try and get the ball in his hands.”

Young gun: Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has led game-winning drives in each of the past two games.

The 2023 first-round pick has played better since getting benched last season.

He has been efficient in the red zone for Carolina this year. He has a 113.8 passer rating in the red zone, the fourth-best in the NFL.

“He’s doing a hell of a job running that offense,” Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “He doesn’t panic. You can see him in the pocket, even when he gets outside the pocket, his eyes are still down the field trying to find the open receiver. I think he’s doing a great job. And again, it’s going to be a challenge for us in how they’ve been playing the last two weeks.”

Costello’s call

The Jets are not going 0-17. They should have won last week’s game, if they could have mustered just a little bit of offense.

I think they play great defense again this week and Justin Fields has a big game running the ball on the way to the Jets’ first victory of the season.

Jets 23, Panthers 10