The New York Jets continue to keep fighting even though they lost their starting quarterback just four snaps into the 2023 NFL season after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles. While it hasn’t always been pretty, they’ve found a way to hang around and win games. This can largely be attributed to the Jets defense, which has been playing exceptionally through the first six weeks of the season despite the circumstances.
“Through these first six weeks, we’ve played a gauntlet of quarterbacks. I know we haven’t gotten all wins, but we’ve embarrassed all of them,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh stated after the Jets 20-14 victory over the reigning NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles led by quarterback and reigning MVP runner-up Jalen Hurts.
The Jets defense forced Hurts into having his worst game of the season and arguably of his career as he threw a career-high three interceptions. Hurts hasn’t been the only elite quarterback to struggle against the Jets defense thus far in 2023.
Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, who are regarded as arguably the two best quarterbacks in the NFL, both had their worst games of the season against the Jets. In Week 1, Allen threw three interceptions and fumbled twice (losing one). In Week 4, Mahomes threw a season-high two interceptions while recording a season-low 203 passing yards in the Chiefs’ 23-20 win over the Jets.
Led by All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, the Jets defense is holding their own against the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks. Saleh continues to hold his defensive unit in high regard and is confident in their ability to propel this team to victory more often than not moving forward.
