I know, I know. You’ve heard what I’m about to say a million times, and you’re tired of hearing it without it translating to victories.
But, man, do the New York Jets have one hell of a defense.
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Yes, the Jets offense is blowing it for the umpteenth time, but we have to give credit where it’s due, no matter how redundant it may be. The Jets are playing elite defense and they deserve their flowers, no matter how tiresome this story has become for Jets fans.
After becoming the first team to make Sam Darnold and the Vikings offense look human this year, the Jets stand out as one of the NFL’s elite defenses yet again. Here are some of their key rankings through five weeks:
- 2nd in yards per game (255.8)
- 5th in points per game (17.0)
- 6th in EPA per play (-0.117)
- 7th in red zone touchdown rate (41.7%)
- 8th in third down conversion rate (31.7%)
They have achieved these rankings despite placing only 18th in average starting field position due to the offense’s struggles.
The Jets’ pass defense, in particular, has been historically dominant.
According to Austin Gayle of The Ringer, the Jets’ defense has recorded a 68.4% success rate on passing downs this season, which is the fourth-best mark within the first five weeks of a season since 2000.
The Jets' defense has a 68.4% success rate on passing downs this season, the fourth-best mark for a defense in Weeks 1-5 this millennium.
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) October 7, 2024
Here are some of the Jets’ key rankings against the pass:
- 1st in net yards per attempt (4.3)
- 2nd in yards per game (136.6)
- 2nd in sack rate (11.4%)
- 3rd in pass touchdown rate (1.4%)
- 4th in opposing QB rating (73.1)
- 5th in EPA per dropback (-0.136)
Non-believers of the Jets’ defense have poked holes in the strength of their early-season schedule, but their latest performance against Darnold and the Vikings squashes any concern that New York is benefiting from weak competition.
Darnold entered Week 5 having registered a passer rating of at least 109 in each of his first four games, only to stoop all the way down to 50.3 against the Jets. As a team, the Vikings offense recorded season-lows in points (16) and total yards (253) after entering with season averages of 27.3 and 340.8, respectively.
Plus, even the Jets’ games against supposedly weak competition were wildly impressive relative to expectations. They held Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots to 61 passing yards; that remains New England’s season-low by 59 yards compared to the next-closest game. They also held Bo Nix and the Broncos to 60 passing yards; that remains Denver’s season-low by 72 yards compared to the next-closest game.
Against the run, the Jets have stabilized after a rough start. They put on a masterclass against a strong Minnesota run game, holding the Vikings to season-lows of 82 rushing yards and 2.7 yards per rush attempt. After that performance, the Jets’ run defense suddenly looks decent through five weeks, which is something few people saw coming after their Week 1 debacle in San Francisco.
Here are some of the Jets’ key rankings against the run:
- 9th in yards per attempt (4.2)
- 14th in yards per game (119.2)
- 14th in EPA per dropback (-0.093)
With a pass defense that has an argument to be the league’s best, the Jets only need their run defense to be respectable for their overall defense to remain elite. While the road to get there has been rocky, they’ve accomplished that through five weeks.
Going forward, there will be more games where the Jets struggle against the run, but if they can balance it out with more games like the one they had against Minnesota, their run defense will be as productive as they need it to be for the defense to achieve overall dominance.
I know Jets fans are tired of this story, but the collective weariness should not prevent us from giving the defense credit for their continued excellence. The hope is that New York’s offense finally figures things out in the coming weeks, allowing this uber-talented unit’s gaudy statistics to finally be converted into wins.
