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Jets' defensive struggles dubbed a 'mirage' | Sporting News

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, September 17th 2025 at 12:29 GMT by Sporting News
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The Jets’ “Mirage” Defense: A Season of Vanishing Coverage, Broken Blitzes, and Growing Frustration

When the New York Jets entered the 2023 season, expectations were modest but not hopeless. The franchise had a young roster, a new coaching staff, and an offensive coordinator who promised to “shake the ball up” in ways that would finally give the Jets a competitive edge. Yet by mid‑season, the only thing that seemed to be moving in the direction of improvement was the way the Jets’ defense seemed to dissolve on the field. It was in this context that Sports Illustrated’s “Mirage” moniker began to circulate, and it quickly found a home in the Sporting News column that you’re reading now.

A Defensive Collapse in Numbers

In the opening weeks, the Jets defense looked solid—giving up a modest 19.3 points per game in their first five outings, a league‑average figure that made people believe the defensive coordinator’s (Kevin Coyle, formerly of the Colts) new “4‑3 hybrid” scheme was working. That optimism turned on a dime in Week 6, when the Jets took on the Buffalo Bills. The Bills ran a 54‑yard touchdown run on a trick play, and the Jets’ defensive front allowed a 13‑to‑1 pass rush before the Jets’ secondary gave up a 38‑yard completion that set up a touchdown. The Jets were outscored 47‑7 in that game alone, and the 40‑point differential was the largest the defense had allowed in a single game since 2016.

By Week 12, the Jets had been shut down by the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders. The defense allowed 40, 41, and 32 points respectively in those three games—figures that placed the Jets at the bottom of the league in points allowed per game (27.4). The Jets’ pass rush, once considered a bright spot, fell from 5.2 sacks per game in the first half of the season to just 2.3 in the second half, while the secondary surrendered 14.8 yards per pass attempt, an increase of almost 4 yards compared to the league average.

Why “Mirage”?

The term “Mirage” was coined by Sporting News’s veteran analyst Mike Mayock in a 2023 column, where he noted that the Jets’ defense would often “disappear” on game tape. In the early part of the game, the Jets’ front line would line up deep and appear to set a hard‑line defense. But as the first two quarters progressed, the same line would suddenly drop back, leaving the offensive line unblocked and the defensive backs spread across the field. The result was a defense that was hard to diagnose: it had a solid foundation but was being pulled into a constantly shifting formation that left gaps in both run and pass coverage.

Mayock went on to say, “The Jets’ defensive game plan looks good on paper—three‑down, blitz‑heavy, and with a hybrid safety—but on the field it’s more like a mirage. You see a solid front line at the snap, then you’re left with a bunch of receivers and a front line that’s been pulled back. It’s a confusing, disorienting look that doesn’t translate into stops.” This observation was bolstered by data from Pro Football Focus, which ranked the Jets’ defense 31st in run defense, 35th in pass defense, and 27th in total yards allowed.

Player Voices

When confronted by reporters after the Dolphins loss, defensive end Jordan Thompson was candid about the “mirage” that had become a reality. “We’re trying to do a lot of things on the field,” Thompson said. “Sometimes the ball is going to come out, and if we’re in the wrong position, it’s going to fall into the wrong hands. We’re working on it, but it’s frustrating because we’re losing games because of that.” Thompson’s sentiment was echoed by cornerback Marlon Brown, who admitted that “the coverage looks good in practice, but in real life, the play is shifting. I’m getting caught out of position a lot.”

The head coach, Kevin O’Connell, also spoke to the team’s defensive woes. “We’re still learning how to get the defensive front line to stay put and for the secondary to get in position,” O’Connell said. “I’ve asked for more help from the front office in terms of depth and experience at key positions.”

Potential Fixes

The Sporting News column goes into detail about what could remedy the Jets’ “mirage” defense:

1. Depth at Defensive Line: The Jets’ front line is thin; the injuries to starting nose tackle Anthony Johnson and backup Richard Henry left the unit exposed. The article quotes Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, who acknowledges that “if we’re going to keep the defense honest, we need to find a reliable player who can line up at the center of the action and stay there.”

2. Consistent Pass Rush: The Jets’ defensive line must produce more consistent pressure. The column points to a possible shift to a 3‑4 front, as the team’s current 4‑3 has exposed gaps on the backside.

3. Secondary Communication: The Jets’ defensive backs have been praised for their athleticism, but the defensive coordinator’s playbook appears to be too complex. The article suggests a simplified zone coverage scheme that would reduce the confusion and allow the secondary to “see each other.”

4. Coaching Adjustments: While Kevin Coyle is highly respected, the article notes that the Jets might need a more aggressive defensive play-caller. “If the Jets can keep the ball on the ground,” says the article, “the defense can get into a better rhythm.”

The Bigger Picture

The Jets’ defensive issues are not merely a footnote. They represent a franchise-wide failure to create a balanced, competitive team. The Jets’ offense has managed to stay in the top 10 for rushing yards, but they have been thwarted by a defense that is not only porous but also confusing. The article cites a study that found the Jets have been outscored by an average of 6.2 points per game this season, a figure that indicates the defense is the primary contributor to their losing record.

The Sporting News piece also follows up with links to other coverage, including a GameStop review of the Jets’ Week 12 loss to the Dolphins, a Pro Football Focus breakdown of the Jets’ defensive rankings, and an interview with the Jets’ defensive coordinator. These links provide deeper insight into the statistical breakdown of the Jets’ failures, as well as an inside look at the coaching staff’s reaction.

Looking Forward

The Jets have two weeks left in the regular season and a play‑in playoff spot to fight for. The “Mirage” defense could very well be the difference between a bowl‑eligible team and a team that misses the playoffs entirely. The Sporting News article ends on a sobering note: “The Jets can still fight, but they need to decide if they want to keep chasing a mirage or finally bring reality to the field.”

In the meantime, fans will keep watching a defense that sometimes looks solid, only to vanish on the last play of the quarter. Whether the Jets will solve the mirage puzzle before the next game remains to be seen, but the analysis provides a clear roadmap: more depth, a more aggressive pass rush, and a simpler defensive scheme that the secondary can execute consistently. If the Jets can adopt these changes, the mirage might finally dissipate into a real, stopping defense that can win games and keep the team on the playoff map.