Stopping Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller among 4 keys to Jets defense vs. Raiders

The Raiders feature two talented young offensive players – Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller – that could wreak havoc if the Jets can’t stop them.

(Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)

Stop RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs may only be a rookie, but he’s running like a veteran. His 923 rushing yards rank fourth among all running backs and he averages a healthy 4.8 yards per attempt. The Raiders are a run-heavy team that ranks ninth in rushing yards per game with 128.2 and they’re 4-1 in games where they’ve eclipsed that average (and 2-3 in games they haven’t).

Fortunately, the Jets have the best run defense in the NFL through Week 11. They’ve allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (79.1) and fewest yards per rush (3.0) in the league. Credit to Gregg Williams: He’s been able to turn a patchwork defense into solid run-stoppers. The Jets haven’t allowed a team to rush for more than 100 yards since Week 8 and have only allowed it three times all year. It will be critical for that trend to continue against the Raiders.

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