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Fox game analyst Drew Brees, who I think is very good, kept saying during the second half how impressed he was with the Jets’ defense in their 23-12 loss in Chicago.
“They have played outstanding for the most part,” Brees said during the fourth quarter.
Not sure how you can say that about a team that played run defense the way the Jets did in Soldier Field.
Chicago rushed for 232 yards, starting a third-string left tackle.
But maybe that didn’t matter that much since so many of the Bears’ runs were right up the gut, just like we saw last week, when the Detroit Lions ran for 131 yards.
I know people in the fantasy football era don’t like covering or focusing on interior defensive line play, but maybe it’s time.
Instead of obsessing about Jamien Sherwood’s pass coverage (which was decent today), how about focusing on the DTs a little?
The Jets’ interior run defense, especially on the defensive line, is killing this defense; there is no way around it.
T’Vondre Sweat’s motor runs hot and cold, Harrison Phillips, a true warrior who gives you everything he’s got, has a lot of wear and tear at this stage of his career and perhaps is playing too much; Jowon Briggs has issues getting off blocks, perhaps for this reason:
“He has short arms,” wrote NFL Network draft analyst Lance Zierlein before the 2024 draft.
And because of that.
“He is unable to create enough separation to clear block engagement,” Zierlein wrote.
And Darrell Jackson’s pad level is way too high, which was a problem once again today.
The Jets got gashed over and over and over again on runs up the middle.
Granted, David Onyemata is sidelined with a groin injury, but that is not an excuse for what we are seeing.
I wrote before this game that the Jets should elevate defensive lineman Isaiah Loudermilk, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2021-25 and is a perfect fit for a 3-4 end at 6-7, 295 pounds.
They also have DT Payton Page on the practice squad.
The Jets changed nothing at DT this week after Detroit, and nothing changed this week. In fact, it got worse.
On too many plays, defensive tackles are “going along for the ride” when getting blocked, to borrow an old scouting term.
“Defense has held on and played well, all things considered,” Brees said in the fourth quarter right before Sweat jumped offside on fourth-and-one, ending any chance for a Jets comeback down 23-13.
Perhaps you can say the back seven played well “all things considered,” considering the defensive line’s issues stopping the run or generating a pass rush (0 sacks from the defensive line).
You can focus all you want on Garrett Wilson’s targets and fantasy score, but the Jets’ interior run defense has turned into unmitigated disaster.
This isn’t fantasy football.
Aside from needing good QB play, a huge part of playing winning football is how you play in the trenches.
I know it’s boring to talk about that, but if you can’t stop the run in this league, your defense is not “outstanding for the most part.” . . .
As for the pass rush, the Jets didn’t take advantage of the Bears starting a third-string left tackle, Theo Benedet, with starter Braxton Jones and his main backup, Ozzy Trapilo, out.
It seems like the Jets’ best pass rusher this year has been linebacker Demario Davis blitzing.
When you have two first-round edge rushers on your roster, some would argue you need to do a little more damage against a third-string left tackle . . .
It was a rough one today for the Jets offense.
The time of possession in today’s game was lopsided to a degree you rarely see in an NFL game.
The Bears had the ball for 42:45 and the Jets 17:15.
The two biggest reasons for that are the Jets’ run defense and the Jets offense going 0-7 on third down.
Geno Smith, who many were putting in Canton all week, in a league of wild narrative shifts week-to-week, seemed to have issues with the myriad disguised coverages presented by the Bears’ veteran defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Some will be quick to say that the Jets are without their #2 and #3 receivers, Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper, who are currently sidelined with injuries, and that this contributed to their stale offensive performance this week.
But they were out last week; the Jets moved the ball fine in Detroit.
Nothing against the Lions’ Kelvin Shepherd, but he’s not in Allen’s league, yet.
Smith faced a lot of stagnant looks easier to diagnosee in Detroit, compared to this week, where the master defensive chess player, Allen, mixed in myriad confusing looks.
Allen’s game plan and play-calling were both masterful . . .
October 4, 2026
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