Jets’ NFL-worst offense will face Commanders’ league-worst defense in possible Christmas Eve snoozer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Washington Commanders are bringing their 32nd-ranked defense to New York to square off against the Jets’ NFL-worst offense.
Something’s got to give, right? Well
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MetLife Stadium could be the site of a Christmas Eve snoozefest Sunday when the Commanders (5-10) – losers of five straight – face the Jets (4-9), who have dropped six of their past seven. Or maybe a surprising slugfest.
It all likely depends on whether the defensively challenged Commanders can stop the Jets’ sluggish offense, which could have Trevor Siemian starting at quarterback if Zach Wilson doesn’t clear the concussion protocol.
The Jets managed just 103 total yards in their 30-0 loss last Sunday at Miami. They rank last in the NFL in third down conversion rate (26%) and red zone scoring rate (34.5%), and have scored just 13 touchdowns on offense in 14 games – and only one in the first quarter.
“Yeah, it’s just been tough all year, honestly,” wide receiver Allen Lazard said. “Obviously, we want to go out there and put up a better performance out there. We want to play better as individuals, as a unit, as a group and collectively as a team, but we definitely have fallen far short of the standard.”
Meanwhile, the Commanders allowed 445 yards in their 28-20 loss last Sunday at the Los Angeles Rams. Washington ranks last in the league in yards passing allowed, and has given up at least 400 total yards in seven games – including each of the past three.
“For the back end, it’s just explosives,” Washington cornerback Kendall Fuller said of the secondary. “Honestly, I think we play really good football but we’ll have one or two or three plays, max, that we give up that ultimately explosives lead to points.
“For us on the back end, just being able to play more consistent, doing whatever we can do to just limit those explosives and I think that’ll show more than anything how well we’re actually playing.”
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