Jets Statistical Rankings Post Week 3
Each week, I’ll be checking up on where the New York Jets currently stand in a variety of different statistical categories.
Let’s dive into the Jets’ current rankings following Week 3 of the NFL season.
*- keep in mind that in this post, higher rankings are always better, even for stats in which less = more.
PASSING OFFENSE:
Passing yards: 393 (32nd)
Passing touchdowns: 1 (T-31st)
Interceptions thrown: 1 (T-6th)
Passing first downs: 22 (T-31st)
Yards per pass attempt: 5.0 (32nd)
Yards per completion: 7.5 (32nd)
Sack rate allowed: 12.1% (31st)
Net yards per pass play: 3.7 (32nd)
Touchdown rate: 1.1% (31st)
Interception rate: 1.1% (9th)
Passing first down rate: 23.4% (31st)
Team passer rating: 78.1 (29th)
20+ yard plays: 4 (32nd)
Passing offense DVOA* rank: 31st
*- DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) is a method of evaluating teams, units, or players in a comparative fashion. It takes the result of every single play during the NFL season and compares each one to the league-average expectation based on situational factors. In this case, DVOA gives us a single number that provides a strong estimate of a unit’s value.
Notes: Predictably, the Jets passing attack was not successful playing against the elite Patriots defense on the road with a third-string quarterback. Luke Falk completed 12 of 22 passes for 98 yards, becoming the first Jets quarterback to throw for under 100 yards on at least 20 passes since Mark Sanchez did it in 2012.
Perhaps the worst mark on the above list is the sack rate. The Jets’ struggles to make big plays through the air can be understood to an extent because of the injuries the team has dealt with at quarterback and wide receiver. However, the offensive line is not a unit that has had to battle injuries. The five projected starters have been healthy for all three games, yet their performance has been horrendous.
A 12.1 percent sack rate is absolutely terrible, especially considering that none of the Jets’ three quarterbacks like to run around and thus take sacks more frequently (a la Marcus Mariota, whose Titans are the only team allowing sacks more often than the Jets). That number is almost entirely on the offensive line, and it needs to get significantly lower if the Jets are going to field a competent offense after the bye week.
RUSHING OFFENSE:
Rushing yards: 197 (28th)
Rushing touchdowns: 0 (one of four teams without any)
Rushing first downs: 7 (T-29th)
10+ yard plays: 4 (T-27th)
Yards per rush attempt: 3.0 (29th)
Rushing first down rate: 10.8% (32nd)
Power success (3rd/4th & 2 yards or less to go): 100% (1/ 1, one of three perfect teams)
Stuff rate (runs for no gain or less): 29% (30th)
Rushing offense DVOA rank: 29th
Notes: Le’Veon Bell could not save the Jets this time. Going up against the most efficient tackling defense in football, Bell ran for only 35 yards. He broke a solid total of four tackles (just two in the run game), but that was well short of the average of 10.0 he broke over the first two weeks. He still leads the NFL with 24 broken tackles.
The offensive line did Bell no favors, as he gained -3 yards before contact and 38 yards after contact.
OVERALL OFFENSE:
Total yards: 590 (32nd)
Yards per play: 3.4 (32nd)
Points per drive: 0.28 (T-32nd)
Third down conversion rate: 20.9% (31st)
Percentage of drives resulting in a score: 5.6% (32nd)
Percentage of drives resulting in a turnover: 8.3% (13th)
Red zone touchdown rate: 50.0% (22nd)
Red zone trips: 2 (32nd)
Offense DVOA rank: 31st
Notes: The Jets offense was shut out by the Patriots, a possibility that seemed highly likely given the team’s injury issues and the talent of the New England defense.
Sam Darnold could be returning out of the bye week. Perhaps his return, coupled with a week off, could mark what can be seen as the start of a brand new season for the Jets.
PASSING DEFENSE:
Passing yards: 860 (26th)
Passing touchdowns: 4 (T-9th)
Interceptions: 4 (T-3rd)
Passing first downs: 38 (T-17th)
Yards per pass attempt: 7.7 (19th)
Yards per completion: 12.3 (22nd)
Sack rate: 4.1% (29th)
Net yards per pass play: 7.0 (19th)
Touchdown rate: 2.8% (10th)
Interception rate: 3.4% (5th)
Passing first down rate: 31.1% (13th)
Team passer rating: 83.2 (8th)
20+ yard plays: 16 (T-31st)
Passing defense DVOA rank: 11th
Notes: Tom Brady’s offense quickly put the game away, jumping out to a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter. He a ton of success throwing against Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts, picking up seven first downs across ten receptions when targeting one of those two.
Johnson started the game after being benched against Cleveland, but was brutal in his limited time. He allowed two first down receptions over just eight snaps on New England’s first drive, leading to another benching immediately following the first defensive drive.
All things considered, these rankings are not all that bad considering the many obstacles Gregg Williams has had to wade through. Over the past two games, the Jets have missed C.J. Mosley’s leadership and coverage talent, as well as Quinnen Williams’ impact pass rushing in the middle of the defensive line. As already discussed, Trumaine Johnson has been a sieve. Yet, as we head into the bye week, this Jets defense is ranked in the better half of the league in passer rating, pass defense DVOA, and passing first down rate.
RUSHING DEFENSE:
Rushing yards: 266 (9th)
Rushing touchdowns: 4 (T-25th)
Rushing first downs: 13 (T-6th)
10+ yard plays: 6 (T-7th)
Yards per rush attempt: 3.6 (7th)
Rushing first down rate: 19.2% (9th)
Power success: 50% (2/4, T-6th)
Stuff rate: 24% (8th)
Rushing defense DVOA rank: 11th
Notes: The Jets run defense made a pivotal mistake early against the Patriots, allowing a five-yard touchdown to Sony Michel as the entire unit was pummeled. Later, they allowed a two-yard touchdown to Rex Burkhead.
However, it was a strong day otherwise for the Jets run defense. Those two touchdown runs were the only rushing first downs picked up by the Patriots across 25 rush attempts (excluding two kneels from the official total of 27 attempts). In total, the Jets allowed New England’s running backs to gain only 56 yards on 22 carries, an average of 2.5 per attempt.
New York’s run defense near the goal line needs to get better, as they’ve allowed a touchdown run in each of their three games this season. However, aside from that issue, the run defense has been decent for the Jets.
OVERALL DEFENSE:
Total yards: 1,126 (21st)
Yards per play: 5.8 (17th)
Points per drive: 1.87 (13th)
Third down conversion rate: 39.5% (15th)
Percentage of drives resulting in a score: 34.2% (13th)
Percentage of drives resulting in a turnover: 15.8% (8th)
Red zone touchdown rate: 71.4% (T-25th)
Red zone trips: 7 (T-5th)
Defense DVOA rank: 11th
Notes: Gregg Williams’ defense was beaten up by the Patriots early on, digging an insurmountable hole 20-0 for the depleted Jets offense barely over 16 minutes into the game. They did recover well, allowing only 10 points over the final 43:40 of the game, but it seemed the outcome was already decided by the time the unit started playing well.
Still, these rankings are impressive considering all of the detriments that the defense has had to deal with so far. Gregg Williams’ unit has had to face numerous injuries, Trumaine Johnson, and an offense that has not yielded them friendly field position, but they still rank somewhere in the league’s middle 50% of most categories.
Because of the level to which they have overachieved so far, it seems the potential is there for this defense to perform at a really solid level once they get C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams back in the lineup.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Punt DVOA rank: 10th
Kickoff DVOA rank: 11th
Punt return DVOA rank: 14th
Kickoff return DVOA rank: 25th
Field goal/extra point DVOA rank: 26th
Special teams DVOA rank: 15th
Notes: It was a nice day for the Jets special teams. The unit scored a touchdown, as Arthur Maulet scooped up a muff by Patriots punt returner Gunner Olszewski and took it to the house. Sam Ficken made both of his extra point attempts. Veteran special teams ace Albert McClellan picked up four tackles in punt coverage, helping to hold Olszewski to just 5.5 yards per return.