The New York Jets defense has faced several challenges lately, most notably conceding 37 points to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.
The Jets (2-5) will aim to address these issues in their upcoming game against the New England Patriots (1-6) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern, airing on CBS.
With their talent, this Jets defense should rank among the league’s best. The unit got a boost this week as pass rusher Haason Reddick, who had been holding out, finally reported to the team, though it’s unclear how much he’ll play Sunday.
However, the Jets have recently struggled against the run. Steelers’ running back Najee Harris gained 102 yards last week. The Jets’ secondary is dealing with injuries, but they’re hopeful a couple of cornerbacks may return for this matchup.
The Patriots are on a six-game losing streak, and it’s evident that they lack the talent to keep up with most NFL teams. The team was expected to enter a rebuilding phase after transitioning from Bill Belichick to Jerod Mayo, though many believed the defense would remain strong.
Unfortunately for New England, that hasn’t been the case.
Here are some key defensive players to watch from each team heading into the game:
### New York Jets
– **DT Quinnen Williams**
Stopping the run is essential for the Jets, and they’ll need Williams to step up in this area. With 11 tackles and two sacks over five games—one of which was against the Patriots—Williams and fellow interior lineman Javon Kinlaw will need to play a bigger role in halting the run.
– **LB Quincy Williams**
Second on the team in tackles with 48 over seven games (34 solo), Williams has four tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Listed on this week’s injury report, he’s essential to the Jets’ defense. He recorded eight tackles, including five solo, in their first game against New England.
– **CB Sauce Gardner**
A star player like Gardner is often evaluated by interceptions, and he hasn’t recorded any this season. Although dealing with an injury-riddled secondary, he’s still had a productive season with 20 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, and three pass breakups. Despite few balls coming his way, he remains a key player.
### New England Patriots
– **DE Keion White**
White leads the Patriots in sacks with four, though all occurred before their first matchup with the Jets on Sept. 19. He hasn’t recorded a sack in five games since, possibly due to teams finding ways to block him more effectively. He has 30 tackles, including four for loss.
– **CB Marcus Jones**
A third-year player with a knack for the ball, Jones recorded three tackles in the first game with the Jets and has 22 tackles over seven games. He’s one of three Patriots with an interception this season and has defended three passes, a rare bright spot in an otherwise unproductive secondary.
– **LB Jahlani Tavai**
Tavai has been the Patriots’ top linebacker, recording 42 tackles (20 solo) and four tackles for loss. In the first meeting with the Jets, he notched 10 tackles (six solo). New England would benefit from him creating a turnover, something the veteran hasn’t yet done this season.
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