JFM’s big day key to Gang’s best defensive effort of ’21
A week ago, John Franklin-Myers was the goat. On Sunday, he was the hero.
Instead of having to explain his roughing the passer penalty that figured prominently in a loss to the Dolphins, the young defensive end got to revel in the first interception of his career and his two sacks that helped the Jets knock off the Texans, 21-14.
“He’s worth his weight in gold, JFM is,” coach Robert Saleh said. “To much is given, much is expected. He has a very high standard for himself and I know he was beating himself up all week for that play.”
Franklin-Myers came up clutch early in the game, as the Texans took the first possession deep into Jets territory. From the Gang Green 17-yard-line, quarterback Tyrod Taylor was trying to set up a screen pass to David Johnson, but Franklin-Myers batted the ball in the air, and came down with it. He then rumbled 32 yards before being taken down.
“I wanted to score, but I had to do what was smart,” he said with a smile. “I couldn’t just run. I [saw] somebody catching up to me. I had to run to the sideline. I didn’t want to risk fumbling.”
Franklin-Myers’ big performance — he also had two tackles for loss — keyed the Jets’ best defensive effort of the season. They had five sacks after producing just seven sacks in their previous six games. They held the Texans to 202 yards of offense, by far a season low. Most importantly, the Jets allowed only 14 points after entering the contest giving up a league-worst 32.0 per game.
The play up front was integral to the defensive breakthrough. Taylor had little time to throw, and as a result managed just 158 yards through the air against the Jets’ inexperienced secondary. Houston couldn’t move the ball in its scoreless second half, managing
just a single first down in the final 30 minutes.
“That was probably the best game we played, as far as being on the same page and communicating,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “When we’re communicating and have everybody on the
same page, and anticipating, we can be a dangerous defense.”
Franklin-Myers picked the perfect time to bust out. He lives a half-hour away from Houston’s NRG Stadium, and he had 50 friends and family members in attendance.
“It was great to play in front of them,” said Franklin-Myers, who now is tied with Quinnen Williams for a team-high six sacks. “They don’t get a chance to come to New York very often. It was a great opportunity.”