As the NFL gears up for the start of the 2023 season, New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed has made a bold proclamation, placing his team’s defense in the same conversation as the most iconic units in NFL history.
“I’m very confident.. I think we have the potential to be the best defense in the NFL. Honestly, I think we can be historical, not just the best defense in the league, but I think we can be a historical defense like the ’85-’86 Bears and the LOB [Seahawks’ Legion of Boom] in 2013. I think we can be that dominant if we just put all the things together,” Reed Said.
D.J. Reed goes all-in on the #Jets defense. pic.twitter.com/KofIvblkMa
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 4, 2023
Reed’s statement immediately garnered attention in NFL circles, with comparisons to the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears and the 2013 Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom.” Both of those teams are renowned for their dominant defensive performances and went on to win Super Bowls in their respective seasons.
The Jets, who open their season against the Buffalo Bills, face a formidable test right out of the gate. The Bills boasted the NFL’s second-highest scoring offense in 2022, setting the stage for an extremely intriguing matchup.
The Jets defensive unit boasts the return of eight starters. Last season, they ranked fourth in scoring defense and fourth in yards allowed.
The continuity fuels Reed’s optimism, alongside his belief in defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and the talented personnel on the team, including Pro Bowl players Quinnen Williams, C.J. Mosley, and Sauce Gardner.
John Franklin-Myers, a defensive end for the Jets, echoed Reed’s sentiments, stating: “Sh*t, why not speak your goals? We’re not afraid to sit here and go out on a limb and say we want to win the Super Bowl, or we want to be the best defense in the NFL.”
One area where the Jets aim for improvement is in takeaways. Despite their strong defensive performance last season, they only managed 16 takeaways, ranking 29th in the league.
Franklin-Myers believes this aspect will be crucial in their quest to become the top defense: “That’s the most telling stat in football,” he emphasized. “We understand that. That’s going to take us from #4 to #1.”
As for Reed, who was born more than a decade after the ’85 Bears era, he sees a small window of opportunity for success with the Jets and a sense of urgency to capitalize on the team’s potential.
“I look at it like we have a small window,” Reed said. “When you have a team like this, when you have a great defense, when you have a Hall of Fame quarterback, when you have a well-built roster, you have to take advantage of this because these teams don’t happen every year with cap space and guys wanting to get paid, etcetera, etcetera. So, we really have to maximize this opportunity right now.”
Franklin-Myers shared Reed’s sentiment, concluding, “Now it’s time to go out and show everybody. You can celebrate when you get to the finish line or you can celebrate when you cross the finish line, and that’s our plan – to celebrate when we’re holding up that trophy at the end of the year.”
How do you think the Jets will do this season?
Will they live up to the hype? Will their offensive line struggles hold them back?
Do they have the best defense in the NFL? How about in history? (Kidding!)