​NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 13: Breece Hall #20 of the New York Jets looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images Plenty of people hand out game balls after the game. That’s easy. Watch the game, see who does well, give them the game ball. We’re doing something a little different. We’re handing out a pre-game ball. Before we watch the game, let’s settle on one player we think might be a decisive advantage for the Jets in the upcoming game. Occasionally we might hand out a pre-blame ball. If we think the Jets are going to get slaughtered, we’ll try to identify a prime culprit.One caveat: the quarterback is off limits. Nothing personal against quarterbacks, but they are obviously the most important players on the field. We could give out a pre-game or pre-blame ball to the quarterback virtually every week, but that would be boring, so we’re not going to do it. We’ll try to identify somebody besides the quarterback for the glory or the ignominy. This approach comes with the obvious drawback that predictions are difficult, especially about the future. We’re destined to get many of these wrong. No matter. We’ll have some laughs along the way. Let’s get to it.The Jets pre-game ball for the Jets game against the Detroit Lions goes to (drum roll please) – Breece Hall.The Jets are badly hurting in the passing game coming into this game. Three Jets receivers – Omar Cooper Jr, Arian Smith and Tim Patrick – are already on the injured reserve list. In addition, Adonai Mitchell suffered a finger injury this week and he may be hobbled for this game. That leaves Garrett Wilson and primary return man Isaiah Williams as the only fully healthy receivers who broke camp with the team. Starting tight end Mason Taylor is also out with an injury, leaving Kenyon Sadiq as the only receiving threat among the Jets tight ends group. All of this makes the Jets’ chances of staying with the Lions in a shootout somewhat remote. Instead the Jets will probably try to control the clock with the running game.The Detroit Lions happen to be a rather accommodating team against the run so far this year, allowing 294 rushing yards and 4.8 yards per carry over their first two games of the 2026 season. A Jets team looking to run the ball meets a Lions team struggling to stop the run. Intention meets opportunity. The Jets running backs get a chance to put the high flying Lions offense on ice. If the Lions jump out to a big lead early this scenario will quickly unravel, as the Jets will be forced into a shootout they definitely do not want. But let’s not dwell on that possibility. We’re Jets fans. Let’s envision Jets success. This week, that vision probably will require a big game out of the running backs. Breece Hall, come on down! Let’s see you light up the Lions in their home stadium. Let’s see you take ad