Analyst shares how Jets got worse after firing of Robert Saleh

For a piece published early Monday morning, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared that New York Jets owner Woody Johnson firing head coach Robert Saleh earlier this month when the team was 2-3 "confused" New York players who feared "losing [Saleh] would stretch the staff thin and hurt a defense that was the strength of the team." 

Later on Monday morning, ESPN's Bill Barnwell explained how the Jets defense failed to play at a top-tier level across the past three games New York lost with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich serving as the club's interim head coach. 

"Through the first five games of the season," Barnwell wrote about the Jets, "they were productive on the defensive side of the ball, ranking sixth in (expected points added) per play and fourth in points allowed per drive. In the three games since the coaching change, they have fallen to last in EPA per play and 26th in points allowed per drive. They've failed to force a single turnover and are allowing teams to convert nearly 77% of their series into another first down or touchdown. Before Saleh's departure, that figure was below 64%, which was the fifth-best mark." 

New York's defense was a shell of its best days under Saleh over the team's last two games. In the 37-15 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 20, quarterback Russell Wilson passed for 264 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions versus the Jets after he missed Pittsburgh's first six contests due to a lingering calf injury.

On Sunday, a New England Patriots team responsible for arguably the league's largest lack of offensive talent had to turn to journeyman signal-caller Jacoby Brissett to replace injured rookie Drake Maye but nevertheless completed two fourth-quarter scoring drives against a Jets defense that had star pass-rusher Haason Reddick making his season debut.

The Patriots defeated the Jets, 25-22. 

There will be little rest for the weary, as the 2-6 Jets will host the 6-2 Houston Texans this coming Thursday night. According to ESPN stats, the Texans began Monday ranked ninth in the NFL in total offense (351.4 yards per game) and 14th with an average of 23.5 points scored per contest. 

"If the defense isn't great," Barnwell concluded about the Jets, "there's no hope of turning things around." 

Outside of wishful thinking, it's difficult to imagine why anybody would believe the Jets can produce a great defensive performance against the Texans.