Jets defense continues to spiral in loss to Saints

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Dec 21, 2025

Published in Football

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The December blues continue for the New York Jets.

The New Orleans Saints (5-10), behind five field goals by Charlie Smyth, defeated the Jets (3-12) 29-6 at Caesars Superdome.

New Orleans won its third consecutive game while the Jets lost their third in a row and fourth out of their last five games.

Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough carved up the Jets defense after finishing 32 for 49 with 308 yards and a touchdown pass. Wide receiver Chris Olave caught 10 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Saints defensive end Cam Jordan recorded two of the Saints eight sacks.

Sunday marked Chris Harris‘ first game as Jets interim defensive coordinator. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn fired former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks after the team allowed 82 points in back-to-back losses to the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Following an embarrassing performance in which Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence scored six touchdowns last week, the Jets defense couldn’t get much worse. The Jets' defense allowed 231 yards at halftime.

However, the Jets defense kept the Saints out of the end zone. Unlike in previous weeks, when receivers seemingly ran free on passing downs, the Jets’ pass coverage was tighter under Harris, relying more on zone coverage than under Wilks, who ran more man coverage schemes.

The Jets also forced their third turnover of the year on the second play of the game when Malachi Moore stripped Taysom Hill after an eight-yard run, and Qwan’tez Stiggers recovered the ball on the Saints’ 37.

The Jets were only able to manage a field goal off the turnover. After struggling for a bulk of the season, Jamien Sherwood had his best game of the season after registering seven tackles and a sack.

However, the Jets defense couldn’t maintain the same play after halftime. They gave up 20 points in the second half, including a 38-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Hill to Olave.

In the second start of his career, Brady Cook failed to show much growth from last week’s game in Jacksonville, Fla. Tyrod Taylor, who was missed last week’s game due to a groin injury, backed up Cook. Justin Fields (knee), who started nine games, was the emergency quarterback after he was inactive.

After throwing three interceptions against the Jaguars, Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand called a conservative game in the first half. Cook completed 8 of 12 passes for just 74 yards.

But when the Jets fell behind by double-digits, Engstrand had to dial up more pass plays, and Cook struggled in the second half. In the third quarter, on the 46-yard line, ex-Jet Nathan Shepherd strip-sacked Cook, and Chase Young recovered the ball for the Saints. New Orleans turned the turnover into Smyth’s fourth field goal of the game to extend its lead to 13.

On the Jets next offensive drive in Saints territory, Cook threw an interception to Jonas Sanker and that pretty much ended any chance of a Jets comeback.

Cook was sacked eight times due to his lack of pocket presence. Their rushing attack and Breece Hall also struggled to get going. He finished with 54 rushing yards on the ground and the Jets averaged just 3.2 yards rushing.

Penalties, which haven’t been an issue in recent weeks, were an issue against the Saints. The Jets committed seven penalties for 54 yards, with two of them on guard John Simpson, which ended up being drive killers.

The Jets will play their final game at MetLife Stadium this season next weekend when they host the New England Patriots.

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