Jets defense must stop the Jay Ajayi train

The New York Jets have a difficult task ahead; stopping the Jay Ajayi train. Ajayi has gone for 200 yards in two consecutive weeks, and another such game can put he, and the Jets, in history books.

Everyone either has, or knows someone with a nickname. Personally, mine is simple; “Jai.” Short and sweet for “Jaiden.” Usually, I become just a bit annoyed when people call me “Jay” because, well, there’s no “y” in my name. These last two weeks have been different, though. My friends call me “Jay….. Ajayi” now. Do I consider myself an athlete? Yes, but I am no person capable of going over 200+ yards in any football game. And to do it two weeks in a row? You might as well tell me I can fly, too. Luckily, I am not the Jay Ajayi that the New York Jets have to worry about this upcoming Week 9, although I would much rather it be that way. But to be given the nickname of someone who has done this type of damage the past two weeks is a moral booster.

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Ajayi has taken the league by storm these past two weeks. As stated before, he has gone for over 200+ total yards against the Dolphins’ last two opponents. Given that both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills hold rushing defenses within the bottom-half of the NFL, it’s still insanely impressive.

Ajayi has written his name on a short list that stands at four players now to record back-to-back 200 yard games. Ricky Williams, O.J. Simpson, and Earl Campbell are the three others to accomplish such a feature. That’s some impressive company, to say the least.

As I’ve said before, the Jets are unpredictably predictable

Fans are accustomed to things going wrong during the course of any given Jets game, practice, or off-the-field event. It pains me to throw these examples out there, but it’s for the good of this article. The “punch heard ’round the world,” the drama people created with Brandon Marshall and Darrelle Revis going at it during camp, and the muffed punt Week 7 are prime instances.

With the amount of negativity that comes with being a Jets fan, seeing Ajayi carve his name in the record books against them wouldn’t be surprising. It’s just one of those “unpredictably predictable” instances. You don’t know what the Jets will do wrong weekly, but you know you sure as heck predicted something wrong happening. Let’s just stay away from the butt fumbles this time, okay guys?

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Both teams have a lot at stake

Now, the Jets are riding a two-game winning streak, as are the Dolphins. Miami is 3-4, as the Jets are 3-5. With a Jets win and a Bills loss, the Jets can move to 4-5 with the second standing in the AFC East. They will also keep the opportunity to hit .500 going into the Week 11 bye, alive. With a victory followed with a Buffalo loss, Miami can go to 4-4 and take second place in the division. As this is happening, let’s not forget that New England is 7-1 looking at 8-1 and another AFC East title. Just another day in the office for those guys, it seems. 

Both teams have faced seriously banged-up opponents, and this week will be no different. The Jets are without rookie linebacker Darron Lee and veteran center Nick Mangold. Lee will be missing his third straight game, with Mangold missing his second consecutive. Both players are nursing ankle injuries. Kellen Davis, Bruce Carter, and Brent Qvale are listed as doubtful or out. New York also has star defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson listed as questionable. 

Miami has listed rookie cornerback Xavien Howard as “out,” along with tight ends Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims.

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In the words of John Mayer, the Jets must “stop this train”

Even though John Mayer used those words to represent the speed of life, the Jets must stop the Ajayi train. With the defensive line that the Jets possess, you’d think this would be an easy task, as they hold the leagues best run defense. But this is a different beast, mainly because it came out of nowhere like a Randy Orton RKO. Ajayi basically RKO’d the NFL. The Jets must play physical in the trenches and get to the elusive back, before they become another victim to the NFL record book.