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The Jets only allowed 10 points on defense in their Week 1 victory over the Lions. It sounds like preparation might have played a role.
A number of Jets defenders said they knew what plays the Lions were going to run based on formation and Stafford hand signals. Allowed them to jump routes, get five picks.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) September 11, 2018
#Jets LB Darron Lee on #Lions offense:
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) September 11, 2018
“We were calling out their plays as (Matt Stafford) getting up to the line. We knew his signals. We knew everything.”
Sometimes study leading up to a game plays a role in victory, and that might have been the case for the Jets in Week 1. I still give the players more credit for executing. Just because a defense knows what is coming does not necessarily mean it will stop the play. Plays on this level are built to create and exploit the weaknesses in defenses. The Jets were operating at a high level after the snap last night, and that is the biggest reason they won the game.
Still, a hat tip goes to the coaching staff and the players for their work in the film room in their preparation for Week 1. Getting that type of head start before the snap certainly does not hurt.