Even when you are the better team, there is always a bar to clear.
For the New York Jets’ first-team defense in Thursday’s joint practice with the Washington Commanders, that bar was extremely high. The rain was pouring, the Jets had “home-field advantage,” and a rookie quarterback stood under center for a Washington team that ranked 25th in scoring last season. New York’s starting defense was expected to not only succeed, but to completely dominate.
And that’s what they did. According to Lynnell Willingham of Washington D.C. radio station 106.7 The Fan, Commanders starting quarterback Jayden Daniels completed only 7-of-15 passes against the Jets’ defense, with all of the completions being check downs or screens.