New York Jets defense isn’t just bad: it’s as bad as it has ever been
The New York Jets defense embarrassed itself on national television this Thursday night, letting up 45 points, 532 total yards, and 260 rushing yards to the Indianapolis Colts in a 15-point defeat. Most of that production was accumulated by about halfway through the third quarter.
In many ways, this was one of the worst defensive performances in franchise history.
Considering that this showing comes only two weeks after the Jets yielded 51 points to the Patriots, the unit is also on track to become one of the worst groups – if not the worst – Jets history.
Here is the one stat that tells the whole story: the Jets are allowing 31.4 points per game this season. That is not only the worst mark in the NFL this season, but it would be the worst average in the history of New York Jets/New York Titans football if maintained.
The current record is 30.9, set in 1975.
Things are getting ugly to an extent that Jets fans have never seen before. Let’s dig into a few of the most mind-boggling numbers behind this particular showing of awfulness in Indy.
8.7 yards per play allowed
The Colts were getting chunk gains whenever they wanted and however they wanted. Indianapolis averaged 8.7 yards per play.
That is the third-worst mark allowed by the Jets in team history.
532 total yards allowed
Indianapolis racked up 532 yards of offense, which is the 12th-best total ever accumulated against the Jets.
Just two weeks earlier, the Jets allowed 551 yards to the Patriots, which is the eighth-best total a team has ever amassed against New York.
The Jets forced zero turnovers in both games. These two abominable performances mark just the third and fourth instances in franchise history in which the Jets allowed over 500 yards and forced zero turnovers. It had previously happened in 2003 against the Colts and in 1986 against the Dolphins.
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30 carries for 260 yards
New York yielded 260 rushing yards to the Colts on only 30 carries.
That is an average of 8.7 yards per rushing attempt – the fourth-worst total ever allowed by a Jets defense.
The Colts’ running backs were actually even better than that. Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines combined for 246 yards on 25 carries (9.8 per attempt).
Indianapolis’ total of 260 rushing yards is tied for the 12th-worst total allowed by the Jets.
The Jets also allowed the Colts to score three rushing touchdowns. This is just the ninth time in franchise history that they allowed 250+ rushing yards and 3+ rushing touchdowns – it is the first time it has happened in the 21st century. The last occurrence was in 1983, when the Jets allowed the Patriots to rack up 328 rushing yards and three scores.
408.1 yards per game allowed
New York is now allowing a league-worst 408.1 yards per game – on pace to be the worst mark in franchise history. The current record is 389.7, set in 1975. Closely following in second place is the 2020 squad, which allowed 387.6 yards per game.
This is rock bottom for the New York Jets defense
Simply put, this would be the worst defense in New York Jets history if the season ended today.
That is not acceptable for a unit that has as much talent as this one does. C.J. Mosley, Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, Foley Fatukasi, Sheldon Rankins, Bryce Hall, Michael Carter II, Marcus Maye – there are good players on this unit. Nobody expects them to be elite, but performing at this level is an incredible disappointment.
Right now, the whole is far lesser than the sum of its parts. That falls heavily on Jeff Ulbrich and Robert Saleh.
