The Jets’ struggling run defense will be tested again this week against the Falcons in a must-win game to keep playoff wishes and Aaron Rodgers hopes alive.
They rank as the second-worst team in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (140.3) — though some of that can be attributed to their opponents having late leads and grinding down the clock — and tied for 13th-worst in rushing yards allowed per carry (4.2).
Last week, the Jets allowed 167 rushing yards to the Dolphins, who have the league’s second-best ground game at 145.2 yards per game — and now face the Falcons’ talented trio of Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson.
“There is a real identity to that offense,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said Thursday. “They’re going to be physical. They’re going to be committed to the run game. They’re not going to abandon it. It doesn’t matter how well you play it early, it’s going to keep coming and coming and coming. … You got three runners that are all unique in their own way, but all bring something really special to the table.
“So, it’s a tremendous challenge and for a defense that maybe has struggled against the run the last couple weeks, what a great opportunity to show ourselves who we are as a defense.”
Atlanta is the fourth in the league in rushing yards per game (139.3) with Robinson, their first-round pick in the spring, leading the charge with 703 yards and three touchdowns over 141 carries. He sits ninth in yards per attempt (5.0).
Allgeier, a second-year back, has nearly as many carries as Robinson and Patterson is a multipurpose weapon. “We really got to stay on our P’s and Q’s …” Bryce Huff said. “These guys are definitely gonna be a challenge. So, we have to make sure we execute on game day.”
Though the Jets have given up the second-most yards in the league on the ground, Ulbrich doesn’t see them as a bottom-tier run defense.
“Do we need to play better? Absolutely. You’re going off of pure yards. I think the better statistic always is yards per carry. We are not 31st as far as that is concerned,” he said. “So, do we got to play it better? We do. At the same time, we’re facing a ton of runs. We’re No. 1 in the league. Arizona has a little bit more, but they played an extra game. So, we have the most runs against us.
“Not to say that that makes it OK that we’re giving up the yards that we’re giving up and that the level of defense that we’re playing versus the run, that has to improve, but we have faced a lot of runs.”
For example, against the Giants in Week 8, the Jets allowed 203 rushing yards — on 52 carries — from the Big Blue, who hardly let Tommy DeVito throw the ball once he entered for an injured Tyrod Taylor.
“There’s no excuses around it. They run the ball, we got to stop them [and] we got to get the ball back to offense, and create turnovers, create opportunities for this team to win,” Solomon Thomas said.