Dec 10, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) is sacked by New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (95) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
FLORHAM PARK — It hasn’t happened a lot this year. Due to injuries along the offensive side of the ball, the New York Jets defense hasn’t had an opportunity to play with a lead consistently in 2023.
That all changed last week against Houston.
And boy, did the Jets’ defense ever show how good they can be.
In New York’s 30-6 blowout win over the Texans, Gang Green’s defense held a top-10 unit in the league to just 135 yards of total offense. The Jets held CJ Stroud – the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year at quarterback – to just 91 passing yards before he was lost for the game late in the fourth with a concussion.
Probably the most impressive stat of the day came though in the second half. The Jets gave up just two first downs and forced Houston into six of seven possessions that lasted just four plays. The level of dominance that was put on display happened with the team holding a multi-possession lead – something that has rarely happened all year.
“It felt great,” Quinnen Williams said Thursday. “Just to see the offense have a lot of success, to see Zach go out and ball out, to see what we can be when we execute at all three phases. It was a super fun win. Just have to be more consistent and keep those things done.”
Easily the best part of the win – outside of the offense putting up the most points they have all year, was the levels of dominance on display from all three phases of the defensive unit.
“We know the circumstances of how it’s been,” Jordan Whitehead told AMNY. “We as a defensive back group, we definitely wanted the ball in passing downs more. Even though we didn’t get any interceptions last week, we…
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