In 12 all-time matchups against the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Jets were 0-12, and on Sunday, it appeared the 5-0 Eagles were on their way to defeating the Jets again.
However, the Jets(3-3) vaunted defense stepped up. New York’s defense forced four turnovers, including intercepting Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts three times. Ultimately, the Jets(3-3) would defeat the Eagles(5-1) for the first time in franchise history, 20-14 at MetLife Stadium.
New York trailed 14-3 in the first half and 14-9 at halftime, but they shut out the Eagles in the second half; the Jets defense has not allowed a second-half touchdown in five of their six games.
New York was without their two starting cornerbacks, Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, but they still did a decent job on Philly’s big-time offense.
The Jets have had a lot of success against the top quarterbacks in the league. Through six games, the Jets have faced three 2022 Pro Bowlers (Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, andHurts). The Jets’ defense has held them to a combined 74 of 114, three touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 62.1 passer rating.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh says his defense has been doing shutting down the top quarterbacks in the NFL all season long.
“I thought the defense was outstanding, per the usual,” Saleh said after the win. “Through these first six weeks, we have played a gauntlet of quarterbacks. I know we haven’t won them all, but we’ve embarrassed all of them. Just really, really proud of the defense and their resolve.”
Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson was impressed with how New York’s defense stepped up despite the injuries in the secondary.
They are a special group to be able to step up on the perimeter like they did, next man up mentality and hold one of the best offenses for the last two years to what they did, hold some of those receivers from making big plays,” Wilson said. “A.J. Brown great player, he is going to get his, DeVonta Smith is a great player, he is going to get his, but to do what they did, keep them out of the end zone in the second half, it is so valuable.”
Jets LB Jermaine Johnson played well on Sunday; he helped force two of Hurts’ three interceptions, and he liked how the team battled against the Eagles.
“One hundred percent, but like I like to say, it’s no surprise to me,” Johnson said about the win. “I know the guys we have in here, the way we face adversity, the way we just shut out rat poison and negative comments and talk, even positive, too. These guys would show up to work every single day. We show up, and we do extra every single day… I’m just happy the way these guys showed out and the way we faced adversity and the way we came out victorious.”
Jets safety Tony Adams, who had his first career interception, which set up the game-winning touchdown, was happy that New York handled their business against the Eagles.
“I had a game-winning interception before in college, but it was nothing like this,” he said. To do it with these guys and this locker room, after all we went through, after the late news this week, it is an honor. It’s an honor to (handle) business with these guys, just doing my job.”
Extraordinary and improbable win by the Jets. While it wasn’t pretty, they got the job done.
Notes:
In the second quarter, DL Quinnen Williams recorded the first interception of his career, turning a tipped pass into a seven-yard return. He is just the fourth defensive lineman to record an interception this season, and the first Jets defensive tackle to record an interception since Shane Burton intercepted Trent Green in November of 2001 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Also in the second quarter, LB Quincy Williams recovered a fumble. With an interception and a fumble recovery coming in the same quarter, the Williams brothers are just the second pair of brothers in the last 30 years to each record a takeaway in the same game for the same team (E.J. and Erin Henderson of MIN, 2010).
This is the second time in Hurts’ career that he was intercepted three times in a game.
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