New York Jets: Report Card vs. Jaguars in Week 4

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 01: Elijah McGuire
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 01: Elijah McGuire /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 01: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs against the New York Jets during their game at MetLife Stadium on October 1, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 01: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs against the New York Jets during their game at MetLife Stadium on October 1, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Defense

Coming into the game, Gang Green knew that they had to contain rookie running back Leonard Fournette and make sure he did not ruin the game. How did they do? So-So. The fourth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft scored the first touchdown of the game on a 10-yard swing pass from Blake Bortles. He finished with a team-high 86 rushing yards and 59 yards through the air. He has an impressive combination of power and speed.

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The Jets did a fine job in bottling up Bortles (15-of-35, 140 yards, one touchdown, one interception) and his top two receivers, Allen Hurns (4-42) and Marqise Lee (2-18), were non-factors. Kony Ealy had a spectacular effort. The swift defensive end deflected four Bortles passes and had an interception as well when he tipped a pass and grabbed it out of the air to give New York the ball on the Jacksonville 7-yard line.  That set up Chandler Catanzaro’s 26-yard field goal to give the Jets a 20-10 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Linebackers DeMario Davis (six solo tackles) and Darron Lee (seven combined tackles) were very active, while rookie safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye continued their steady play. The Jaguars converted just 4-of-15 third down opportunities (26 percent). New York’s defense is really starting to find an identity with their aggressive play.

Grade: B