Jets encouraged by effort levels on defense, despite recurring mistakes in loss to Saints

Considering that the Jets allowed a whopping 82 points combined in their first two December losses, prompting the recent firing of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, a bend-not-break effort against the Saints on Sunday with Chris Harris taking over playcalls could only signal progress.

Of course, progress is all relative. While the Jets' defense bent plenty, holding the Saints to a handful of field goals that kept the score close for three quarters, a pair of second-half touchdowns ultimately widened the gap in what turned into a rough 29-6 loss at Caesars Superdome.

The good news was that the Jets, under Harris' watch, kept the Saints out of the end zone in the first half and forced their third turnover of the season on the second play of the game. Malachi Moore stripped the ball from Taysom Hill after an eight-yard rush and Qwan’tez Stiggers recovered it.

The bad news? The Jets still allowed 231 first-half yards -- including four drives of eight-plus plays -- and struggled to correct mistakes in coverage and tackling that recurred with Wilks controlling the scheme.

Overall, the Jets gave up 412 yards and 23 first downs to a Saints offense that entered Sunday ranked bottom-five in the NFL in average points per game. Their defense also set a new league record for the most consecutive games without an interception (15).

"The biggest thing coming out as a defense today was more like pride," said Quincy Williams, who made 11 tackles (six solo). "What do you want to put on tape as far as the next two weeks, next three weeks, however long we have? But also setting a foundation for the team that's coming in for next year."

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was pleased with the efforts, in spite of some undisciplined penalties and plays that made a late comeback too tall of an order.

He also thought Harris was "patient" in his defensive playcalling and not fazed by up-tempo Saints attacks that demanded some quick reactions and solutions.

"I don’t think there was anything within the way [Harris] was calling where I thought he was frazzled at all," Glenn said. "There was no second-guessing. Every game, every playcaller would have a couple calls like, 'Man, I wish I had that back.' I know he'll say that, but I'd say this: There was no panic."

Williams mentioned pride. Glenn mentioned effort. After the game, the buzzword for Moore was "fight," and the Jets will need to show plenty of it next Sunday in their final home game of 2025, against the division-rival Patriots.

"We've got two games left in the season. Let's go out there in the next two weeks and put our best foot forward," Moore told SNY's Jeane Coakley. "[Glenn said] the same thing, having us give effort and the character of this team."