The Jets lost to the Eagles on Sunday, 27-24. It was a low point in their season and they responded by losing three of their next four games., 3
The “jets 4-3 defense” is a defensive strategy that has been used by the Jets since Rex Ryan took over as head coach. The 3 takeaways from their ugly Week 13 loss to the Eagles are that they need to improve their run defense, and they have to find a way to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The New York Jets fought the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, but their efforts fell short once again. New York fell to 3-9 on the season as a result of the defeat. Despite their defeat, the Jets had moments of hope, while there were also the usual worries. In New York, it was always going to be a losing season, so the squad is simply searching for things to concentrate on after each game.
Despite the fact that Jalen Hurts did not play, backup quarterback Gardner Minshew led the Eagles to a 33-18 triumph. The Jets’ defensive performance was undoubtedly one to forget, as they not only failed against the pass, but were also overpowered by the rushing game.
Here are three key lessons from the Jets’ Week 13 defeat to the Eagles.
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Takeaways from Week 13 for the Jets
3. The defense can’t possibly be much worse.
It wasn’t exactly surprising that the Jets’ defense allowed the Eagles to run all over them on the ground. In that aspect, it was a David against. Goliath struggle, since the Jets have a poor rush defense and the Eagles are one of the finest rushing teams in the league. With Jalen Hurts and Jordan Howard out, one would expect the Jets to at least put up a competent run defense. That was not the case in Week 13, as the Eagles picked up 185 running yards on 41 runs, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Miles Sanders carried for 120 yards, his first 100-yard running effort of the season, and Kenneth Gainwell was making huge plays as well.
This week, the Jets should have been able to focus on the run and load the box against Philly, but their pass defense was just as bad. Allowing a backup quarterback to complete 80% of his pass attempts is inexcusable, as it only served to strengthen the Eagles’ running game. The Jets had a great opportunity to catch a wounded Eagles offense off guard, but instead, Minshew and company dropped 33 points on the road.
2. Elijah Moore is maturing as a person.
On offense, things were much better, and rookie wideout Elijah Moore was one of the best players in this game. The Jets’ Ole Miss product has been on fire recently, catching at least four passes in five of his last six games. With an early touchdown, the rook increased his season touchdown total to five, his first TD hookup with Zach Wilson this season. Moore was the Jets’ offensive focal point by a long by, which is a promising indication for a rookie wideout, particularly given the franchise’s disappointment with 2020 draft selection Denzel Mims’ lack of progress. Moore had 12 targets on Sunday, catching six passes for 77 yards and a score. It was his sixth touchdown in as many games, and the 21-year-old is quickly establishing himself as a legitimate No. 1 receiver.
1. Zach Wilson had his greatest performance to date.
It wasn’t a victory, but it was like winning the lottery for Jets fans hoping to see any indications of growth from rookie quarterback Zach Wilson. Wilson wasn’t great, but he seemed to be much more confident and in command of the attack. Turnovers have been a major issue for the BYU product so far in his career, but he only threw one against the Eagles on Sunday and has now thrown two in the previous two weeks. This is a welcome improvement for the 22-year-old after throwing nine interceptions in his first five outings.
Wilson passed for 226 yards and a career-high 23 pass completions in addition to minimizing turnovers. Wilson threw for two touchdowns and also scored on the ground for the second time in as many weeks. Even if he’s still making rookie errors, he’s finding ways to create plays. The showing was promising, and although there’s still a long way to go, Jets fans have cause to be encouraged about the Utah native following his performance this week. This is a team that is on the rise, and as Wilson matures as a player and as a link builder with his receivers, the club’s potential will begin to come through.
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