With Sam Darnold missing his second consecutive game with mononucleosis and Trevor Siemian out the rest of the season due to ligament tears in his ankle that he suffered in Monday night's loss against the Browns, the Jets have turned to QB Luke Falk, who will make his first start of his career this Sunday afternoon.
And what a game to make your first career start it will be, because not only are the Jets on the road, but they will be facing the reigning Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots in Foxborough.
Falk, taken with the 199th pick in the 2018 draft by the Titans, will be taking a similar start to his career as the pass thrower on the opposing sideline--Tom Brady. Like Falk, Brady was also taken with the 199th pick in the draft, and also made his first career start in Foxborough, Mass--albeit in Foxboro Stadium, and not Gillette Stadium.
The Washington State product immediately drew the connection when he knew he'd be another quarterback drafted at 199.
"Yeah it was kind of weird, I got my phone and I saw the Titans were pick 199 and I got a call from Tennessee around 196 and I was like 'No way', so it was pretty cool. I was just happy I got drafted," Falk said.
Now going up against that same man and the franchise he's lead to six Super Bowl championships in his illustrious career.
"Yeah, I think a lot of quarterbacks looked up to Brady growing up. I've been watching him since I was young so it will be fun to be able to go against them this Sunday and just go out and execute," Falk said. "Yeah it's pretty cool, you are going up, you are playing against one of your idols but I'll be facing the defense not playing against him, but I just have to go out there, execute the game plan and do the best I can to help my team win."
Despite making the change from being on the practice squad to backup to now the starter, Falk is using his combined knowledge of head coach Adam Gase's offense--due to spending time in Miami last season-- and his preparations for last Monday's game to maintain a similar approach to starting on Sunday.
"I think last week I was still preparing to play, this week you are getting the reps so you are getting more physical reps now and you change up a few things here and there. I guess you get more input as to what you like and what you don't like, but I love the game plan and I'm excited to go out and execute." Falk said.
"Whatever [Gase] calls, it is my job to go execute, so whatever he calls I have faith in that and just got to go out and execute and make positive plays."
Falk went 20-for-25 for 198 yards and was sacked twice on Monday night against Cleveland, replacing Siemian in the first half.