The Jets’ stingy defense has kept them in contention for most games this season, and they’ve been on the edge of playoff contention in the AFC.
But with Zach Wilson and the offense scoring zero touchdowns in the last two losses, there’s a growing sense that the team’s excellent defensive unit needs to be even closer to perfection.
“I don’t want to say it’s perfect. This is an imperfect game,” veteran linebacker CJ Mosley said Monday on Zoom. “We strive for perfection, but I think it’s just that for us.” [about] Consistency. After all, they are our teammates. They are our brothers, they are trying to do the right thing, they are trying to put us in the right position.
“Of course, we’re with them every day and we see them trying and doing their best. So we understand that struggle. …The only thing we can do is It’s about continuing to do my job as a defenseman and as a teammate and continue to lift my brothers up through this difficult time.”
Defensive end Bryce Huff agreed, saying, “I don’t think it has to be perfect,” but acknowledged that the Jets are “trying to leave as little room for error as possible.”
Huff committed a costly roughing-the-passer penalty in Sunday’s second quarter to extend the Raiders’ field goal drive, but it was one of the eight penalties the Jets committed against the defense in the game. That was the only penalty.
“That was one penalty, but that penalty gave them a field goal. If you get that field goal, it might be a different ballgame,” Mosley said. “The offense might have a different mindset going into that last drive.
“Looking back, as a defenseman, I want to be known as one of the top defensemen that’s ever played in this league. So, that’s something we have to protect ourselves. It’s hard. I know it might be impossible, it might be almost impossible, but that’s what we strive for every day. We try to hold ourselves to a certain standard and not let excuses or other expectations get in the way. please.”
When asked if there were any new injuries for Sunday’s game, coach Robert Saleh said: “There are still some things that remain. We arrived at about 8 o’clock in the morning. We are still processing and evaluating. We’re still working on it, so we won’t know much until Wednesday.”
