The Defensive Identity

Edition #495

Good morning! ☕

Even if we have a long way to go, the start of the week is always enjoyable after a victory. When that victory comes against a coach who ran his mouth in the summer, it’s even better.

I spent some time watching the game back and my initial thoughts largely held up. A lot of things to clear up, but the team has potential and if everything clicks they can beat anyone, as they should have done against Kansas City.

Next week is going to be tough, but then we head on the bye week. Coming off the bye we have:

New York Giants at Metlife
LA Chargers at Metlife
LV Raiders at Allegiant
Bills in Buffalo
Dolphins at Metlife

That’s an opportunity. Go into the bye at 3-3 and you like your chances in three of those games. Going in 3-3 will be a challenge, we’re 6.5 underdogs against Philly and deservedly so, but I’m hoping we play up to the competition like we did against the Chiefs.

Buffalo on the road is always tough, and Miami will be a challenge…but at home, you always have a chance. Maybe I’m an eternal optimist for I could see us being 7-4 or 6-5 after that slate.

To do that, the defence is going to have to take it up a notch.

🤕 The big news this morning is that AVT will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles, we’re going to get into that situation more in tomorrow’s newsletter.

👍 The Jets’ 10-point winning margin was the highest margin of victory in Denver since the NFL-AFL merger.

⚡ Breece Hall now owns 2 of the 3 longest rushes in the NFL this season after his 72-yard touchdown yesterday, he also had an 83-yard rush against Buffalo.

👑 His 177 rushing yards are the most by a single Jet since Isaiah Crowell’s 219 yard performance back in 2018.

🫡 C.J Mosley has now had 37 straight games of 5+ tackles, which is the longest active streak in the NFL.

🙌 Quincy Williams became the first player in Jets history to record 9+ tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 TFL and 3 QB hits in a single game.

🏈 That special teams fumble recovery was the first one for the Jets since week four of the 2021 season. Forced by Irvin Charles and recovered by Sam Eguavoen.

🏈 Bryce Hall’s touchdown was the first defensive fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by the Jets since Mo Wilkerson did it all the way back in 2012.

🔐 Sunday also marked the first time in franchise history that the Jets recorded back-to-back games with a safety. Al Woods got into the backfield yesterday. Only 10 NFL teams have ever had back to back games with a safety.

👣 Sunday marked just the 4th game of Greg Zuerlein’s career with 5 made field goals.

🗣️ Allen Lazard had this to say on Zach Wilson: "I thought he did a great job & to be able to kind of bounce back these past 2 weeks & just show his true self & his ability at quarterback because he's super talented - it was great to see that."

☝️ Remember Breece Hall has been on a pitch count…he’s currently 5th in the NFL with 387 yards rushing and his 7.2 yards per carry are second only to Miami's De'Von Achane (12.1). It’s about to get real.

A lot of the early season focus has been on the offence, the quarterback and the playcalling. But the defence hasn’t been as dominant as it was a year ago, and for the Jets to make the playoffs in light of Aaron Rodgers's injury, they’re going to need to climb the rankings in several key statistics.