One of many larger surprises of the New York Jets’ 2022 season was the emergence of its protection. Whereas the 2021 protection was moderately unhealthy (allowed probably the most yards and factors), the 2022 protection was legitimately nice, ending with the 2nd lowest factors allowed and the 4th lowest yards allowed.

Whereas many causes will be cited for why this enchancment occurred (cough cough addition of cornerback Sauce Gardner cough), one motive that has been talked about by critics is the Jets protection’s favorable schedule because of the excessive variety of backup quarterbacks they confronted. Admittedly, this criticism is honest because the Jets did play 6 of their 17 video games towards backups, which is undoubtably a bonus. Nevertheless, the diploma to which this benefit explains the success of the Jets protection could also be overstated.

In inspecting the numbers, the Jets protection allowed two much less factors per week when dealing with a backup quarterback in comparison with weeks the place they didn’t face a backup quarterback. Whereas this will likely clarify the gaudy statistics they have been in a position to put up in some areas, the Jets protection was nonetheless extraordinarily good when dealing with starters; particularly, they allowed solely 18.8 factors per week when dealing with a starter, which might have nonetheless left them tied for second in factors allowed with the Baltimore Ravens.

General, whereas the Jets protection might regress for a number of causes, it doesn’t seem that dealing with extra wholesome beginning quarterbacks shall be among the many greatest causes if that have been to happen.