Intriguing stats ahead of Philadelphia Eagles versus NY Jets game

Thankfully, the days leading up to the Philadelphia Eagles‘ Week 13 game versus the New York Jets flew by. That’s exactly what we all needed following whatever that was in East Rutherford, New Jersey a little less than a week ago.

Here we go again! The Birds return to the scene of the crime, MetLife Stadium, for the second time in as many weeks. Let’s hope that, this time, they leave with the desired result. Eagles nation will go off of the rails if Philadelphia drops one to the lowly Jets.

4 Interesting stats ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles and Jets game

1. The Jets stacked five sacks and seven more QB hits in Week 12 versus Houston.

As of 10:30 a.m. EST, three of the Jets’ best defensive linemen remain as question marks. Sheldon Rankins is doubtful with a knee injury. John Franklin-Myers and Folorunso Fatukasi are both questionable as they’ve been dealing with hip and back injuries.

They combined for 89 snaps in Week 12 as New York was dominant versus Houston in the trenches. If any or all of those guys can’t go, the Eagles’ chances at victory increase exponentially. Franklin-Myers accounted for two of those sacks and two of the QB hits.

2. The Eagles notched another 200-yard rushing game in Week 12.

In Week 12, when Philadelphia ran the ball, they had success. When they didn’t, the offense sputtered. It was as simple as that. That’s your take on last week’s game. Somehow, the Birds still wound up with 200 yards rushing.

They’ve eclipsed that mark in each of the last three games as well as four of the last five, and they probably would have won in Week 12 had they stuck with what’s been working.

At some point, the Philadelphia Eagles are going to have to excel in the passing game if they want to win with regularity, but last week wasn’t one of those times. They probably won’t need to rely on Jalen Hurts’ arm in Week 13 either. The question is an obvious one. Will Nick Sirianni remain patient?

3. The Jets rush defense ranks in the bottom fourth of the NFL in rush yards per game allowed. 

Did we mention the fact that we’d like to see some bully ball in this one? The Jets rank in the bottom fourth of the NFL (27th) in rushing yards allowed per game (128.7). They’re just outside the bottom tier (tied for 23rd) in yards given up per carry to opposing rushers (4.5).

In Week 12, Jalen Hurts averaged 9.6 yards per carry while Miles Sanders averaged 7.1 and Boston Scott ran at a 4.3 yards-per-clip. At 10:30 p.m. EST, Jordan Howard is ruled out, Scott and Hurts are questionable, and even though Sanders is expected to play and start, you have to ask if he can finish a game.

Philly should have some chances to run the ball. If they execute, they should be able to win with relative ease. A loss to the Jets at this stage of the season would be a catastrophe.