Jets' Situational Success Goes From Bad to Worse; Will It Improve vs. Raiders?

Gang Green's third-down efficiency sitting at 45-year league low ahead of SNF matchup

It was already historically bad, and it only got worse.

The New York Jets entered their Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Chargers as the NFL's least effective team in third down offense. Extrapolated for the whole season, the Jets' 22.99 percent conversion rate through seven games would rank as the league's worst result since 1978. 

Continuing along the unprecedented pace, the Green & White converted only 3 of 17 third-down attempts (18%) in the 27-6 loss to the Chargers. Jets' quarterback Zach Wilson was sacked five times on third down, including a Joey Bosa strip sack that gave LA the ball at midfield. 

"I have to find a way to get the ball out of my hands. We have to find a way to be better there," said Wilson.

After failing on every third-down attempt during the second half last Monday night, the Jets' league-worst conversion rate dropped to 22.12 percent. Over the past three games, the Green & White has moved the chains on 7 of the last 43 third-down attempts (16.2%).

"It’s the self inflicted wounds. Just the simple things," said Jets' offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett on Thursday. "We get an explosive play and it gets called back for whether it’s an illegal shift or an illegal formation. It’s a fumble. We get going and then we get a fumble or we get into a manageable third down situation and we don’t convert."

Gang Green isn't only last but they're last by a staggeringly wide margin, more than 9.5 percentage points behind the 31st-ranked team. The Cleveland Browns' offense is next, succeeding on 31.7 percent of third downs.  

"It’s unbelievably frustrating. I think it is for all of us, but the only thing we know how to do is keep working. For me, keep coaching, keep looking at different things," said Hackett.

The Jets will try to improve their third-down efficiency during an important AFC primetime matchup against Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders. Crosby registered 3.0 sacks last week against the New York Giants, including one on third down. 

The Raiders are permitting opponents to convert 43.1 percent on third down, which ranks 26th out of 32 NFL defenses. 

The Jets (4-4) and the Raiders (4-5) will kick off on November 12 at 8:20 pm ET in Las Vegas.

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