When the New York Jets hit the road to face the Cleveland Browns in Week 8, records will fall thanks to what should be an incredible defense.
The NFL record for the most sacks by a player in a single game is seven. For the Jets, it’s four. Four sacks in a single game. Defensive end John Abraham did it once in the early 2000s and defensive lineman Mark Gastineau did it three times in the 1980s.
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So, what am I saying? Make no mistake about it, the Jets will break two records against the Browns on October 30th, 2016 and it’s easy to see why it’ll happen, mainly in part to the overall defense of the Jets.
Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, though still recovering from a broken leg, is entering a contract year. With 10 plus sacks in two of five seasons, Wilkerson will be out set a high mark for the huge contract that is sure to come his way. It is very possible that he makes it three out of six seasons. That is, if he plays.
Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams, the other two premier players along the defensive line, combined for eight sacks last year. Williams, who is entering his second season, should see a huge spike in his sack total, not unlike Wilkerson experienced in 2013. As for Richardson, well, he is who he is. A monster of a man and as healthy as an ox, Richardson should surpass his sack total from last year.
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Against the Browns, Jordan Jenkins and Darron Lee will no longer be “green” and should be entering their mid-season form.
Lorenzo Mauldin will be entering his second season and, if head coach Todd Bowles expects it, there is no reason to doubt that he’ll have one hell of a season.
As for the old dogs, Harris and the likely-to-be-returned Pace will anchor the corps and train up these young pups into fierce quarterback hounds.
The Browns allowed 53 sacks last year (an average of 3.31/per game) and did very little to improve things. With Joe Thomas acting as a lone gunman along the Browns’ mediocre offensive line, the aforementioned Jets’ defense should feast at will on their quarterback.
Speaking of which, it looks like Robert Griffin III looks to be their starter and well, with his injury history and overall inconsistency, the Jets’ defensive line should wreak havoc against him.
So, there you have it. Whether it be Wilkerson or Richardson, Mauldin or Lee, one of these Jets could – and should – break the franchise record of sacks by an individual player in a single game.
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Wait a minute, Chris. You said there’ll be two records broken on October 30th? Yes. Yes, I did. The NFL team record for sacks in a single game is twelve. Seems pretty achievable now, doesn’t it?