After snapping their five-game losing streak with a much-needed 21-13 home victory over the Houston Texans, it’s time for the New York Jets to turn the page.
“We said earlier in the week it takes one win to get this thing started, and we got it, and now it’s up to us to take the momentum,” right tackle Morgan Moses told reporters on Monday.
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The team aims to ride this wave of momentum and start a winning streak on Sunday as they travel to Arizona to take on Kyler Murray and the 5-4 Arizona Cardinals. Arizona currently possesses first place in the NFC West following a dominant 29-9 victory over the Chicago Bears.
For the Jets to carry their momentum into Arizona, they must contain the Cardinals’ rushing attack, which has been one of the Jet’s most pressing weaknesses all season.
Arizona has one of the NFL’s strongest rushing attacks at the midway mark of the season. Here is a look at their numbers and where they rank in the league thus far.
- 149.7 rushing yards per game (7th)
- 5.3 yards per rushing attempt (2nd)
- 8.3 rushing first downs per game (5th)
- 1.0 rushing touchdown per game (T-11th)
Meanwhile, here is a look at the Jets’ numbers against the run.
- 132.6 rushing yards allowed per game (21st)
- 4.3 yards per rushing attempt (8th)
- 8.0 rushing first downs allowed per game (25th)
- 1.2 rushing touchdowns allowed per game (24th)
“They are pushing the pile, that’s the main thing,” linebacker Quincy Williams said of the Cardinals’ offensive line. “Those linemen enjoy blocking for their running backs, also their quarterback, too. They both do a lot of running. We know that they’re capable of that. They have a good run game. Containing the quarterback also is one of the things on that list.”
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray ranks third among quarterbacks with 350 rushing yards. This is another problem for the Jets. They have struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks recently, allowing 116 rushing yards and a touchdown to opposing quarterbacks over the past two weeks.
“You’re talking about a dynamic guy with Kyler Murray with the different throwing angles,” Jets safety Jalen Mills said. “He’s able to put the ball down the field and also his ability to run. Those third-and-3s, third-and-5s, and even third-and-10, he’s scrambling for a first down. I think we, as a defense on all three levels, D-line, linebackers, and the secondary, start with the run game and then defend those guys down the field and try to contain Kyler Murray.”
Mills also praised Cardinals running-back James Conner, who has had a spectacular start to the season, ranking sixth in the league among running backs with 664 rushing yards.
“Conner, he’s a beast,” Mills said. “He’s been a beast since he’s been in this league.”
The Jets must shut down Conner and the Cardinals’ ground game to leave Arizona with a win.
