The Green & White's 273 rushing yards led the NFL in Week 16 (the Browns were second with 219) despite a makeshift offensive line. The team's starting guards -- LG Alijah Vera-Tucker and RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif -- are each on the NFL's reserve/Covid list. Dan Feeney and Greg Van Roten started in their place. Rookie RB Michael Carter ran for a career-high 118 yards on 16 carries (7.4) and Tevin Coleman added an additional 51 yards on 14 tries (4.1 avg). It was the most rushing yards for the team since 2018 (277).
This week, the Jets face one of the NFL's premier rush defenses. The Buccaneers defense, coordinated by former Jets HC Todd Bowles, allows 87.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 3 in the NFL. They're led by DT Vita Veta (6-4, 347), Ndamukong Suh (6-4, 313) and DT Steve McLendon (6-3, 310), a former Jet, is a part of the rotation as well.
"This year I feel like they're getting more awareness for the guys up front," Bucs staff writer Carmen Vitali said. "It's always been Vita, Suh and Will Gholston, who is coming into his own as a pass rusher. You had no Vita Vea for most of last season, but you have the continuity again and know the expectation. Todd Bowles' defense starts with stopping the run because you make an offense one dimensional if you take away the run. It's gotten to the point where they have that reputation now so I think opponents really don't even try a lot of the time to run on these guys."
This week, the Jets face one of the NFL's premier rush defenses. The Buccaneers defense, coordinated by former Jets HC Todd Bowles, allows 87.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 3 in the NFL. They're led by DT Vita Veta (6-4, 347), Ndamukong Suh (6-4, 313) and DT Steve McLendon (6-3, 310), a former Jet, is a part of the rotation as well.
"This year I feel like they're getting more awareness for the guys up front," Bucs staff writer Carmen Vitali said. "It's always been Vita, Suh and Will Gholston, who is coming into his own as a pass rusher. You had no Vita Vea for most of last season, but you have the continuity again and know the expectation. Todd Bowles' defense starts with stopping the run because you make an offense one dimensional if you take away the run. It's gotten to the point where they have that reputation now so I think opponents really don't even try a lot of the time to run on these guys."