Jets defensive players took drastic step in attempt to save season

The defense of the New York Jets was expected to be a strength under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn, who previously served as defensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. 

Instead, the Jets' defense was a massive liability as the club began the season with five straight losses. 

While speaking with reporters on Friday, pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson revealed that members of the Jets defense came together for a meeting before the club traveled to London for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos (3-2).

Jets defense has "to be better" after five straight defeats

"Everybody was on the same page," Johnson said about the players-only meeting, per Rich Cimini of ESPN. "We have to be better. We can't be the reason we lose. That can't happen. We have too much talent."

Thus far, the evidence has suggested outsiders overrated the Jets' defensive talent ahead of September. ESPN stats show the Jets will enter the weekend ranked 31st in the league in opponent points scored per game (31.4) and 22nd in total yards allowed per contest (347.4).

Additionally, the Jets' defense became the first in NFL history to record no takeaways over the opening five games of a campaign since turnovers became an official stat in 1933. 

Johnson missed the past three games with an ankle injury but is on track to play against Denver. Ideally, he'll prove to be a positive for what was one of the league's most disappointing units over the season's first five weeks.

"Coach AG has had our back as far as how he runs this thing, instilling a certain culture in here," Johnson added about Glenn. "We have to have his back by putting a good product out there. That's our job. We definitely take full accountability."

Aaron Glenn remains confident despite historically bad start to Jets tenure

No Jets head coach had ever lost his first five games in charge before this season. On Friday, Glenn shared why he remains confident in what he can achieve despite his historically bad start. 

"There's some foundational things that I see us building right now that no one else sees," Glenn explained. "And that's OK because everybody sees 0-5. But I do know this: That's going to change, and the foundation's going to be stable. We're going to start winning and everything will be just fine." 

Certain members of the NFL community seem to believe that change won't begin in Week 6. As of Friday afternoon, ESPN BET had the Jets as 6.5-point underdogs for the matchup that will be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.