Defense looking to go out on a high note in season finale
FLORHAM PARK, N,J. — The Jets might have the No. 3 defense in the NFL statistically, however, Gang Green’s unit has slipped in recent weeks.
Robert Saleh’s defense against the Lions in Week 15 allowed a 51-yard game-winning touchdown with 1:49 remaining. The following week against the Jaguars, they had a 96-yard drive in the second quarter that played a significant role in the game.
And then there’s last week against the Seahawks when Kenneth Walker III ran for 60 yards on the first play from scrimmage. Seattle, as a team, rushed for 198 yards against the Jets, which was the most the team has allowed on the ground this season.
“Gap control,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “It’s a thing where we are so aggressive up front at times. We weren’t as sound as we needed to be last week against a runner that can absolutely take advantage of that.”
The Jets are allowing 311.6 yards per game, third in the league. Gang Green also gives up 19.1 points per game, which is fourth in the NFL.
Those numbers are usually good enough to get a team to the playoffs. However, with the Jets offense so anemic recently as they have not scored a touchdown in two weeks, it is up to the defense to keep them in games and they have not recently.
The Jets had 15 takeaways in the first 11 weeks of the season. During their fivegame losing streak, the Jets have just one.
It appears the Jets defense will face Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson this week. Starter Tua Tagovailoa is still out due to a concussion and backup Teddy Bridgewater is dealing with a pinky injury on his throwing hand.
The Jets played Thompson in Week 5 after Tagovailoa was out (concussion) and Bridgewater was knocked out on the game’s first play. Thompson finished 19 of 33 for 166 yards and an interception in a 40-17 Jets victory.
Thompson also played in last weekend’s 23-21 loss to the Patriots in relief of Bridgewater as he completed 12 of 21 passes for 104 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
“I think it is unfair to him in the game that he played in last week and in the game that he played in our week — it’s so hard to prepare,” Ulbrich said, “I know pros have to do this but to prepare as the starter when you’re not getting all the firstteam reps and in our game, he didn’t have that and last week he obviously didn’t have that.
“It will be interesting regardless of who starts, they’re going to get a majority of all of the reps. I think we will see a better version of him.”