The Jets have racked up some moral victories lately.
Now, they want to get an actual one.
Gang Green have played hard in losses to the Patriots and Ravens in the last two weeks.
The Jets (2-9) kept it close deep into the second half before falling to better teams.
This week, they face a 4-7 Falcons team playing its backup quarterback that feels like a team more in the Jets’ weight class.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn has been stressing improvement and the Jets have looked better in some areas recently.
Aaron Glenn reacts during the Jets’ Nov. 23 loss to the Ravens. Getty Images
Glenn wants to see more of that Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“We’re excited to go out and see how we improved on the things that we need to improve on,” Glenn said. “And the things that we thought we did well, how much better can we get with those things, and that’s in all three phases. So, looking forward to it, ready to go win a game.”
This should be a physical matchup that could be decided by who dominates the line of scrimmage.
Bijan Robinson runs with the ball during the Falcons’ Nov. 23 game against the Saints. Imagn Images
The Jets enter ranked seventh in rushing yards per game.
Their offensive line has been improving as the season has gone on.
The Falcons have held their last two opponents under 100 yards rushing after getting gashed by the Colts for 323 yards.
On the other side of the ball, Atlanta has Bijan Robinson leading a potent rushing attack against a Jets defense that limited the powerful rushing attacks of the Patriots and Ravens in the past two weeks.
“I think every game I look at it that way. I mean, if you win the battle of the trenches, there’s a good chance you’ll win the game,” Glenn said. “So, yes, they are a good zone-blocking team, but we’ve seen a lot of good zone-blocking teams. It’s just one of the teams that’s in our way right now, and that’s offense and defense. So, again, we’re looking forward to playing against a good, quality opponent. Again, we got to stop their running game, we know it’s a big part of who they are, combined with the play-action pass. And again, we just got to be ready for it.”
This game is the first of a stretch of games when the schedule eases up for the Jets.
They face the Dolphins, Jaguars and Saints after this, with the Jaguars being the only team that looks like it could be playoff bound.
The moral victories could turn into real ones now.
