The Jets had more sacks on TNF than the Falcons have had all season

The Jets topped the Texans on Thursday Night Football in a must-win situation for New York.

The Aaron Rodgers-led club was losers of five straight, playing some of the worst football in the league. And for most of the evening on TNF, the Jets looked like they were ready to blow this one too.

Fortunately, Rodgers and Garrett Wilson weren’t ready to call it quits on the season, but it was Quinnen Williams and the Jets defense that really kept them in the game, battering C.J. Stroud.

The Texans quarterback was pressured on nearly half of his pass attempts, and he finished 11 of 30 passing (36.7%) for 191 yards and a 59.2 passer rating. Houston’s offensive line was a turnstile, allowing eight sacks, more than the Falcons have had all season.

Of course, I was going to get to the punchline. Yes, you read that correctly. The Jets recorded more sacks in one game than the Falcons have in eight games. Jamien Sherwood and Michael Clemons totaled two, Quinnen Williams added 1.5, Solomon Thomas and D.J. Reed chipped in one, and Haason Reddick logged 0.5 sacks.

Granted, circumstances matter. The Jets’ defensive front is menacing, especially with Haason Reddick back in the fold. Moreover, the Texans’ offensive line is horrible, one of the worst in football. It still doesn’t change the fact that the Falcons are a pathetic group when it comes to rushing the passer.

The Matthew Judon trade hasn’t worked out. He’s lost a step and is getting double-teamed at rates he can’t overcome. Grady Jarrett can’t do it alone on the interior, and Jimmy Lake continues to try to fit a square peg into a round hole.

It’s one of those situations where several things have to happen for it to improve. There must be internal development. Whether it comes from the veterans or youngsters, someone is going to have to step up. While Lake and Raheem Morris are going to have to do their part to help manufacture some pressure, and Terry Fontenot has to add to the group. There has to be an infusion of talent at some point. Even then, it won’t be a great pass rush, but that shouldn’t be the goal. The goal for the Falcons is to improve the pass rush enough that it won’t cost them games.

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Photographer: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire