The Jets appear to have found an identity.
Gang Green has used a stingy defense and a strong running game to win three games in a row for the first time in three years. They have also managed to cut down on the killer mistakes that have cost them games, particularly in the fourth quarter, in recent years.
“The last three weeks we’ve found a groove and we’ve got to continue that, continue getting better,” wide receiver Braxton Berrios said. “You want to be able to run the ball. We do know in those December games, those January games, et cetera, you’re going to have to establish a run to win. That’s been a big focus. We’re starting to figure it out.”
The rushing attack has moved to the forefront for the Jets. After attempting a whopping 156 passes in their first three games with Joe Flacco at quarterback, they have thrown just 76 passes in the past three games with Zach Wilson back under center. The Jets have run the ball 33 times in each of the past two games after averaging 19 rushes per game in the first three games.
Part of this switch on offense is an effort by offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to get the run game going. But it is also a function of the Jets not falling behind early like they had done early in the season. The Jets did not trail against the Packers on Sunday or last week against the Dolphins. In their first three games, the only lead they had was the final 22 seconds in the miraculous win over the Browns.
“The last two weeks, we’ve been fortunate to have a pretty good handle in the fourth quarter where we could really try to grind out in four minute [offense],” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “I thought it was really good by our offense, especially in the fourth quarter [Sunday], I think we had like 10 runs in a row or something like that. It’s more about the flow of the game.”
The Jets rushed for 135 yards against the Dolphins and 179 against the Packers. Rookie running back Breece Hall has been a key figure in those two games and the offensive line has played better. The Jets did not top 100 yards rushing in the first four games of the year.
At some point, the Jets will need to lean on their passing game, but Wilson is part of the supporting cast right now. He attempted just 18 passes Sunday, throwing for 110 yards. Saleh praised Wilson’s play despite his lack of big numbers.
“I thought he did a really nice job with handling the second half,” Saleh said, “I think he completed his last four passes, he only needed to throw six times but each of them were really good, big throws that impacted the game in a positive way. I thought he did a really nice job, he did what he had to do and when we have to go jump on his shoulder, I still think he’d be able to handle it.”
The running game has been good, but the defense really stole the show Sunday. It held Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to 278 yards and 10 points. The Jets have not allowed 300 yards in any of their last three games. The Jets have seven takeaways in that span and the offense has not turned it over since the third quarter in Pittsburgh.
The Jets have also cut down on penalties late in games, which has doomed them in recent years. They have five penalties in the fourth quarter in the last three games, just one in each of the last two fourth quarters. Other than a few pass interference penalties against the Dolphins and a penalty on a coach on Sunday, none have been major penalties.
“A lot of the games in the NFL are lost and not won,” Berrios said, “especially when you go into Lambeau and go against a team like Green Bay that has an incredible culture and history of dominant football. You’re going to have to win those games. To do that, you’ve got to put yourself in those positions. To do that, you really have got to limit the penalties, the self-inflicted wounds, the pre-snap stuff, all that. We’ve focused on that and done a good job so far.”