Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty took a shot at the Jets defense from Las Vegas ahead of this Sunday’s game between the teams and it was heard in New Jersey.
Jeanty said that he thinks the Raiders can “definitely get the run game going” because the Jets defense has a “couple guys out there that don’t really want to tackle.” Getting the run game going has been an issue for Jeanty and the Raiders this season and they enter Week 8 at No. 31 in the league with three yards per carry.
Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker said at a Thursday press conference that he had seen what Jeanty had to say and that his only response was that he has “plenty of confidence in our guys.” Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said that Jeanty’s words had also made it to the team’s locker room.
“Whenever our name is brought up, whether it be an opponent or a past opponent, it catches our eye,” Fitzpatrick said, via SNY. “The way that I operate, I go out there and play 110 percent effort. No matter who I’m playing against, no matter what they said. Obviously certain things can add a little more fuel to the fire, but at the end of the day I got to go out there and do my job. I think most guys in this locker room operate in the same fashion.”
While Jeanty has struggled thus far, it’s not hard to see why he thinks the Jets would be a good team to face. After good showings the first two weeks, they have allowed 152.6 yards per game over the last five contests. Whichever side reverses those trends will have a better chance of prevailing in Week 8.