New York Jets: 3 Vital statistics for 2019 season

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For the most part this decade, the New York Jets have trotted out a pretty respectable defensive unit. Be it head coach Rex Ryan or Todd Bowles, the team’s issues — more times than not — were on the other side of the football.

That’s not to say that the Green and White always did their job when it came to stopping the other team. But it’s been erratic quarterback play and lack of consistency when it comes to the team’s attack that has plagued this club more often than not.

However, the Jets’ defense has steadily declined in recent years. In 2015, in Bowles’ first year as head coach, only three teams in the league allowed fewer total yards per game. New York also came up with an impressive 30 takeaways that season and allowed only 29 offensive touchdowns. One year later, the Jets finished 11th in total defense despite the fact that Bowles’ squad forced only 14 turnovers.

But in each of these past two seasons, opponents have found it quite easily quite easy to move the football against Gang Green. Only seven clubs in the league allowed more total yards per game in the league each of those years. In 2018, the Jets gave up 441 points and 45 offensive touchdowns.

The defense is now under the control of Gregg Williams, whose defenses are very aggressive. But while the club allowed only 17 points in Week 1, the Buffalo Bills rolled up 370 total yards despite turning over the football four times. There’s obviously still some work to be done.