It isn’t hard to predict what the Jacksonville Jaguars will do when they host the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, and it’s purely circumstantial …

Gang Green is set to start undrafted free agent Brady Cook in Week 15. The Missouri product struggled in his first game action last week against Miami, but he did put some quality throws on tape during the contest.

Against Jacksonville, however, the Jets know they are in for a much different matchup.

If the season ended today, the Jaguars would be the AFC South champions and a playoff team in their first season under the guidance of Rhode Island native Liam Coen. While all eyes have been on their offense, it is their opportunistic defense that has led the team to victory.

It’s that same defense that is licking its chops going into a matchup against a quarterback making his first-ever start in the NFL.

Jets are preparing for anything

Speaking to reporters ahead of Thursday afternoon’s practice, Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand was confident that the team would have a plan that would allow Cook to perform admirably on Sunday.

The reality is, though, that he was never supposed to be in this predicament in the first place. Injuries to both Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields have forced the organization’s hands.

In preparing for Jacksonville and their strong secondary, Engstrand is aware of the different ways the Jags can attack his young quarterback.

“It can go one of two ways,” Engstrand said. “I think, historically, some defensive
coordinators say, ‘Hey, we’re going to heat the young kid up and see what he’s made of.’”

“We’re prepared for that, and we’re prepared for the other stuff that they’ve shown on tape, so we’ll have whoever is ready to play, ready to play.”

Jacksonville has recorded 15 interceptions on the season—good for second-most in the NFL. They can come away with those picks due to disguised zone coverages and an aggressive blitz package.

For a Jets offense that has struggled to throw the football all season, Sunday’s matchup isn’t a good one for the 24-year-old rookie.

That is where Engstrand’s game plan comes into play. New York’s offensive play-caller has done an admirable job in scheming receivers open all season, despite having his quarterbacks missing reads at an alarming rate.

A savvy game plan for Sunday could be allowing Cook to roll outside the pocket on bootlegs and shortening the field, thus simplifying his reads.

It may not be enough to beat the AFC South leaders, but it is at least a plan that shows the Jets are prepared for another day as the underdog on Sunday.

Reporting from the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ.