Can Jets Stop Jackson?

The Jets worst defensive performance of the year was week 3 against Oakland. They allowed Darren Mc Fadden to rush for 171 yards on 19 attempts and 2 touchdowns. Fast forward to today’s game against the Bills and Gang Green is facing another physical back, who brings the same level of physicality McFadden does, as well as breakaway speed. This player is Fred Jackson, and the similarities to McFadden are striking. McFadden is 6 foot 2 210 lbs. Jackson is 6 foot 1 215 lbs. Both have breakaway speed, and run a majority of their plays up the middle with Jackson specifically garnering 284 yards and 30 touchdowns on 45 attempts.

While the Jets have always been good against the run, this year at least the stats have been somewhat misleading. The Jets have handled the short versatile backs, Ray Rice and Maurice Jones Drew fine but struggled against McFadden and Ben-Jarvus Green Ellis. In terms of running back style Jackson fits into the latter group, which is not good. Today represents a chance for the Jets defense to bring back their old swagger and physicality that they had in the second half against the Chargers. If the Jets defense bottles up Fred Jackson, the Bills won’t be able to establish a tone offensively, and without a fair balance between run and pass plays the Jets can key in on Fitzpatrick, once they stop Jackson.

Today is the day where we see how good the Jets defense is. In a must win game (even though I say every game is a must win game) the Jets have to rekindle the defense of last season, and dominate Buffalo on the line of scrimmage. In the Bills loss against the Bengals and their luck win against the Patriots Jackson struggled held under 75 yards in both games. If the Jets can hold Jackson to that type of game they will win, and in a season with 3 AFC East contenders a win today could make all the difference.