Five Key Matchups: Broncos-Jets

These former teammates won't always be lined up opposite one another, but in the Jets' two receiver sets Harris should draw Decker in coverage relatively often. The former Broncos wide receiver missed last week and has been limited in practice with a balky hamstring, but he expects to suit up against his old team. He leads the Jets with 204 receiving yards and two touchdowns, but Harris had an excellent game in Week 5 and isonly getting stronger since his ACL injury. "I played against Decker in college, so I already knew what type of competitor he is," Harris said Wednesday. "Even him being here, he's always been a tough guy to go against, so I'm looking forward to it. I'm pretty sure he's looking forward to it." "I don't want to say too much, man," he added with a smile.

Gase handled noted blitzer Todd Bowles' defense very effectively in Week 5, as a bevy of big plays boosted the Broncos to afranchise-record 568 total yards. But while Ryan also likes to blitz, his unpredictability presents a unique challenge for offensive coaches. "You don't know where anybody's going to be," Gase said Thursday. "You don't know what Rex is going to do. You walk out there and you could be in four-wide and he's in base defense. You could be in 12-personnel, and he could be in dime. "At the end of the day you have to be able to play ball and adjust to whatever he throws at you and kind of do your thing as well. He's been very successful for a long period of time for a reason." Ryan's secondary has been weaker than in years past, requiring more zone coverage, but that doesn't limit his willingness to roll the dice. It will be intriguing to see who gets the best of whom in a clash of two of the brighter minds around the league.

This matchup between "D-Ware" and "D-Brick" features two of the steadier veterans in the league, who have a combined 19 years of NFL experience and 10 Pro Bowl appearances. Ferguson has started every game since he was drafted in 2006, while Ware missed the first game of his career last season in Dallas. Ware has earned at least a piece of a sack in three of four games this season, picking up seven QB hits along the way. Ferguson hasn't allowed a sack through five games but has been called for two false starts and a holding penalty. Ware may represent the toughest test yet for New York's big left tackle.

The reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week had an incendiary Week 5, setting a franchise record for receiving yardage and scoring touchdowns of 31 and 86 yards. Milliner, a 2013 first-round pick, struggled down the stretch in his rookie season and has been bothered by anankle injury to start this season but is returning to full health. Thomas torched former Jet corner Antonio Cromartie against the Cardinals and will look to do the same against Milliner. Rex Ryan will likely offer Milliner double-team help on Thomas, but if the two get matched up one-on-one during a Jets blitz, expect Peyton Manning to look Thomas' way.

Knighton has built upon his strong finish to last season with several good performances in 2014, highlighted by a partially blocked field goal against the Seahawks and the game-winning batted pass onfourth down against the Chiefs. Trying to control the Broncos' 6-foot-3, 335-pound nose tackle will be Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold, who spearheads a running game that ranks sixth in the NFL. Mangold will likely need frequent double-team help to handle Knighton, which will free up Broncos linebackers to shoot gaps and fly to the ball carrier.