It's been nearly a month since the Jets' defense has permitted an opposing offense to rush for 100 yards or more. That was against Cleveland on Nov. 9.
Since then, the Green & White has faced down the Patriots (65 rushing yards net) and the Ravens (98 net), who were No. 6 in the league ahead of Baltimore's loss to Cincinnati on Thanksgiving evening.
The next challenge comes against Atlanta (4-7) and its shifty RB Bijan Robinson at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
"I think really it comes down to that being 1 of 11," DC Steve Wilks said on Friday. "I know it's a cliché, but everybody understands that if I just do my job and have trust with the man beside me for his gap integrity, and that's what you've been seeing -- guys not trying to make plays that aren't theirs. And when we press and try to do something that's not there, we start getting out of a gap, and that's when you see the explosive play. So I'm very happy and pleased that accountability is there, but most important, the trust throughout the defense is showing."
Robinson, the No. 8 overall selection by the Falcons in the 2023 NFL Draft, comes into the game as the league's No. 8 rusher with 853 yards (5.0 a carry) with 4 TD and a long scamper of 81 yards. He is averaging 77.5 yards a game.
"It's their offensive line versus our defensive line and I've been challenging our guys all week," Wilks said. "We have to outplay those guys, and again, in the run game, pass game, whatever it may be. They're fundamentally sound, the best zone-blocking team that we've seen, and that's their bread and butter. They're going to mix in some gap scheme, but what they do is outside zone, outside zone, outside zone, Bijan finds that open crease in that hole. So we got to win a lot of scrimmage, and we got to do a great job up front. That's where it starts."
AG on Atlanta QB Kirk Cousins: 'He Does Look Like Himself'
Jets HC Aaron Glenn is no stranger to the wily ways of veteran QB Kirk Cousins, who is in his second season with Atlanta after playing 6 years with Minnesota, an NFC North rival of Detroit where, of course, Glenn was the defensive coordinator beginning in 2021.
In his last season with the Vikings in 2023, Cousins sustained a torn Achilles tendon in Week 8, then signed in free agency with the Falcons. He played in 14 games before yielding to rookie Michael Penix Jr. Penix began this season as the starter, but a season-ending injury has thrust Cousins, 37, back into the starting lineup. So far, he has a 1-1 record leading the offense.
"I've played against him a number of years," Glenn said on Friday. "So to me, when you look at his play action game, which he's been phenomenal at, he does look like himself. When we saw the bomb he threw [a 49-yard TD pass] to [WR Darnell] Mooney, which was a damn good play for those guys.
"He's smart. He understands defense in totality, and he's going to be able to guide those young guys into what we're trying to do, and to try to figure out how can they beat the coverage that we're in."
In Atlanta's 24-10 win over NFC South rival New Orleans last week, Cousins hit on 16-of-23 passes for 199 yards with 2 TDs and an INT.
"I can't say he doesn't look like himself," Glenn said. "I think he's always been the same Kurt it's just that he's coming a year off of that Achilles, which most think you need a year to come off that Achilles to get back where you need to be at. So he's a guy that we know he's going to watch every piece of film he can watch against us to see how he can beat our coaches."
Glenn offered an injury update on DL Harrison Phillips, who has been dealing with a foot injury, saying that he's practiced all week and "should be fine." ... Glenn, however, added that second-year RB Braelon Allen, who sustained a knee injury in Week 4 at Miami, is "likely" done for the season.
OC Tanner Engstrand on QB Tyrod Taylor: 'He Took Care of the Football'
Veteran QB Tyrod Taylor is set to make his second-straight start when the Jets (2-9) face Atlanta on Sunday. Taylor, who made his third start of the season when he faced the team that drafted him -- Baltimore -- in 2011, turned in a solid performance. Taylor was 17-of-28 passing for 228 with a TD and an INT.
"Here's the best thing that Tyrod did [last] Sunday ... he took care of the football, and he took the throws that presented themselves to us," Engstrand said on Friday. "He got us into the right place for the most part, which was really good. And you know we're excited to continue to see that production climb as we all get together and play together more with some of the new players [like WRs John Metchie III and Adonai Mitchell] and with the new quarterback."
