While the Jets deserve a ton of credit for their 27-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons, considering how poorly they played the run, it’s even more impressive that they were able to pull this game out.
Entering a game against Miami, with red-hot back De’Von Achane coming to town, they must fix their run defense.
Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson ran for 142 yards on 23 carries on Sunday.
Too many runs got to the third level of the defense, which explains why safety Malachi Moore led the Jets with 10 tackles.
Too often, Falcon linemen were getting to the second level and taking out Jets linebackers.
If you want to see the best from Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams, two athletic, run-and-hit linebackers, you need defensive linemen to take up double teams, so these cats can flow to the ball unencumbered.
But when they have massive offensive linemen, some who outweigh them by 100 pounds, pulling to the second level and taking them out, it’s hard for them to do their thing.
Good win. Poor run defense.
The Jets must look at the film and improve their run defense if they hope to contain Achane, one of the NFL’s most underrated backs, with world-class speed.
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