Jets vs. Saints: Preview, prediction, what to watch for in Week 16

An inside look at Sunday’s Jets-Saints NFL Week 16 matchup at Caesars Superdome:

Marquee matchup

Jets WR Adonai Mitchell vs. Saints CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

With Garrett Wilson officially out for the rest of the season, it is up to Mitchell to be the Jets’ No. 1 receiver.

He has adapted quickly since coming over from the Colts in the Sauce Gardner trade.

He has 18 catches for 236 yards in five games.

Adonai Mitchell AP

“You know a guy’s kind of got it, like he’s understanding the offense,” offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said. “I mean, we’re fairly multiple in different formations and calls and how we’re saying things and where we want to get him, and when you see him in a walkthrough and he’s listening to the call, and like halfway through it, you can see that it’s already processed in his head and he’s already getting to where he needs to go. And so it’s there for him right now, and so that’s been one of the coolest things to see. I mean, he’s been here for a little over a month or whatever and those types of things are already hitting home with that player.

“It’s just a credit to him, and he’s one of the first guys in here every day. We walk down, we’re having a staff meeting, he’s over there in the receivers room. So, I think that’s a credit to him and the time that he’s put in.”

McKinstry leads the Saints with three interceptions and 10 passes defensed.

Kool-Aid McKinstry AP

Four downs

The Brady bunch: Rookie Jets quarterback Brady Cook will make his second straight start.

Cook has completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 339 yards in two games with one touchdown and five interceptions.

He knows he needs to cut down on the turnovers.

“Yeah, I mean number one, for me, ball security,” Cook said of where he needs improvement. “I don’t want turning the ball over to be a habit for me. That’s not something that’s been a part of my game in the past, and that’s something I want to clean up this week.”

Brady Book Getty Images

The Saints defense is No. 6 in the NFL in passing yards allowed, so they could make it a tough day for Cook.

“It’s an opportunity for me to lead this team once again and try to go get a win on the road,” Cook said. “It’s really as simple as that.”

Still going: Demario Davis has been around so long that he was drafted by Mike Tannenbaum, who is five Jets GMs ago.

Davis, a third-round pick by the Jets in 2012, is still going strong for the Saints at age 36.

---

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NFL STANDINGS AND JETS STATS

---

The linebacker leads the team in tackling. Jets coach Aaron Glenn got to know Davis when Glenn was an assistant coach in New Orleans.

“He is probably one of the best leaders that I’ve ever been around,” Glenn said. “There are a number of things I can say about that player because of how he carries himself. He’s a man of faith. He’s [36] years old, playing that position. You hardly ever see that. Nothing but respect for him. I love the player and I love what he brings to the table. … He’s A1 in my book.”

On the edge: The Jets pass rush has been nonexistent lately.

The team has just 22 sacks this season — only the 49ers have fewer. Is this the week they can get going?

The Saints have allowed 40 sacks, the ninth-most in the NFL.

Rookie Kelvin Banks is their left tackle and second-year player Taliese Fuaga is at right tackle.

That should be a good matchup for Jets edge rushers Will McDonald, who does not have a sack in his past five games, and Jermaine Johnson, who does not have a sack in his past four.

Hurting Saints: Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is not going to have all of his weapons around him.

Star running back Alvin Kamara is going to miss his fourth straight game.

The Saints also placed running back Devin Neal and wide receiver Devaughn Vele on injured reserve this week.

There will be a lot of pressure on star receiver Chris Olave to carry the offense.

He has 82 catches for 896 yards and six touchdowns this season. Audric Estime will be carrying the load at running back.

Costello’s call

It’s hard to find much intrigue in this matchup.

Can the Jets defense play better after the coordinator change? It would hard to be worse.

The Saints are playing better lately and have confidence in Tyler Shough.

They win a close one on a late field goal.

Saints 23, Jets 21