A preview of Sunday’s NFL Week 13 matchup between the Jets and Falcons at MetLife Stadium:
Key Matchup
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Jets defense
It’s pretty clear where the Falcons will focus their offensive efforts.
Robinson ranks among the top running backs in the league, having accrued 853 rushing yards, 543 receiving yards, and a total of six touchdowns this season.
The Jets’ defense is well aware that losing containment against him can lead to significant gains.
“He can break out for 90 yards at any moment,” noted cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. His ability to shift explosively is impressive. We must ensure our gaps are sound and play with greater aggression than they do. Their offensive line excels at both run blocking and executing wide zone schemes. We have to be versatile around the ball. He’s a tough opponent who can quickly traverse the field. It’s essential we rally defensively against him.”
The Jets’ defense has noticeably improved against the run in recent outings.
Last week, they limited the Ravens to 98 rushing yards and held the Patriots to 65 yards.
“I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. If I can do my job and trust my teammates to maintain gap integrity, that’s what you’re witnessing,” said defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes. “Players need to avoid trying to make plays that aren’t theirs. When we apply pressure and force plays that aren’t there, that’s when explosive plays occur.”
Four Notable Points
A New QB Battle: This will mark the second quarterback for both teams this season. The Jets intentionally chose to start Tyrod Taylor, while the Falcons had to insert Kirk Cousins after Michael Penix Jr. was sidelined for the year due to a torn ACL.
Cousins will be making his second straight start and third appearance this season.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn has a history with Cousins from his time in Detroit, facing him multiple times during his Minnesota tenure.
“I’ve gone against him for years. His play-action execution is really impressive,” Glenn commented. “We’ve seen the deep throw he made to [Darnell] Mooney. He’s perceptive and understands defensive strategies, which will help guide the younger players on how to counter our coverages.”
Brees Hall’s Performance: Even though Breece Hall amassed 119 scrimmage yards last week, which marks his third time hitting the 100-yard mark in four games, he had a costly fumble near the end zone during the Ravens game that overshadowed much of his success.
Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand have been trying to boost Hall’s spirits following the fumble.
“When I spoke with him post-game, I told him, ‘Look, these things happen. You got us down there; you’re the reason we got that far. But sometimes things just happen,’” Engstrand mentioned. “He understands the need to protect the football; we emphasize that regularly.”
Defensive Struggles: Perhaps the most striking statistic about the Jets’ defense is their complete lack of interceptions this season—marking an NFL low through 11 games. They also struggle to register sacks.
They sit with just 19 sacks, which is among the bottom three in the league.
If they maintain this pace, they could finish with merely 29 sacks for the season, the lowest since 2017. Will McDonald IV has managed seven sacks, although several others have three or more.
Cousins might be more vulnerable to being brought down than quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson or Drake Maye have been over the last two weeks.
Familiar Face on the Sidelines: The Jets will encounter a known figure on the Falcons’ sidelines.
Jeff Ulbrich, who spent four seasons with the Jets, is now the defensive coordinator for the Falcons.
Ulbrich previously held the position of defensive coordinator under former head coach Robert Saleh and served as interim head coach in 2024, after Saleh’s departure.
His time as interim didn’t yield favorable results, finishing with a 3-9 record as the team struggled.
This season, under Ulbrich, the Falcons rank 16th in the league in yards allowed and 14th in points allowed.
Final Thoughts
The Jets have shown some good form recently, yet they’ve largely faced teams that outmatch them.
The Falcons fall into that category, and I expect the Jets to secure a win in a game that should highlight defensive prowess.
I foresee the Jets pulling ahead in the fourth quarter.
Jets 20, Falcons 10
