New York Jets: 5 X-factors to watch vs. Falcons in Week 8

2. Morris Claiborne, CB

Buster Skrine would’ve been coming of his worst performance as in the NFL. However, he’s in the concussion protocol and unlikely to play on Sunday against the Falcons.

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Despite only reaching the end zone once in 2017, Jones is still a threat, and he must be watched very carefully. That means matching the talented wide receiver against Juston Burris or Darryl Roberts is highly unlikely. So, the Jets will have to line up Claiborne against Julio Jones, and have him follow Jones around the field, even though Claiborne is most comfortable playing on the right side.

So far this season, Claiborne is showing why he’s a shutdown corner. He isn’t the turnover guy that Darrelle Revis was, but teams aren’t targeting his side of the field a lot, which shows that he’s taking his man out of the game on a regular basis. If he can do the same against Jones, the Falcons will be limited in their ability to score, which plays right into the hands of the Jets offense.

Claiborne will be huge in this game with Skrine out. If he can shutdown Jones, it will go a long way in the Jets coming away with a victory in Week 8.