For the Vikings' Week 14 matchup against the Jets, we spoke to Kimberley A. Martin, who covers the team for Newsday, for this week's edition of "Behind Enemy Lines." Here are five questions we asked Martin about Sunday's game at TCF Bank Stadium.

1. Why has quarterback Geno Smith had a difficult time establishing himself as a starting quarterback?

It's obvious Smith has regressed but it's unclear why exactly. Some might argue, he's just not that good of a quarterback, but the kid has proven (albeit sparingly this year) that he can string some good drives together. His best performance this season came in a 27-25 loss at New England in Week 7, when he completed 20 of 34 passes for 226 yards and no interceptions. But, simply put: Smith just lacks consistency. Whether it's mental or physical, he just hasn't been able to show week in and week out that he can properly read defenses and throw passes without staring down receivers. Oh, and not throw interceptions.

2. How has the offense maintained a strong run offense despite being so one-dimensional?

It's no surprise the Jets are second in the NFL in rushing yards (148.2 per game) behind Chris Ivory, Chris Johnson and Bilal Powell. Ivory is a violent runner, Johnson has great footwork and Powell is dependable on third downs. Their run-pass ratio is closer than you might imagine, however, but the Jets are far less efficient throwing the football. Recently, Rex Ryan stressed "for us to have the best chance to win, we definitely need to run the football."

3. Why have the Jets been so bad defending third downs this season?

Ryan may be a defensive guru, but the strength of his defenses has always been predicated on strong cornerback play. And if you haven't noticed, the Jets are lacking that this season. Their secondary has been a major issue all year, and that adversely affects the guys up front. But in key situations – third down and in the red zone – the Jets frequently have issues with miscommunication, missed assignments and poor tackling.

4. Where does defensive tackle Muhammed Wilkerson's absence hurt the defense the most?

Defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman admitted it was "tough" filling Wilkerson's shoes. The Jets are lucky to have depth, but his absence puts more pressure on the guys up front to generate a pass rush while their beleaguered secondary tries to hold its coverage. Ryan will again rely on former first-round pick Quinton Coples – who was drafted in 2012 to be a down lineman and moved to outside linebacker last season – and a mix of other players on the D-line.

5. What do the Jets need to do to win this game?

Ryan always finds a way to confuse and vex rookie quarterbacks, so the Jets have to get after Teddy Bridgewater and get the youngster off his game early. But more importantly than that, they have to sustain drives and take advantage of their red-zone opportunities. They rushed for 277 yards on Monday night against Miami – including 210 in the first half – and only scored one touchdown.