Harrison Phillips identifies one of the New York Jets’ top woes

“We need to improve on supportive football and complementary football,” Phillips said. “If we can improve on those two things, and not only support the two other faces when they are not out there, but also complement the other phases.” Harrison couldn’t be more spot on here. When the defense is rolling, Justin Fields and the offense can’t sniff a pass completion. When the offense gathers momentum (i.e., Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the win in Cincinnati), the defense is nowhere to be found. Simply put, lacking a complementary style is what often characterizes bad football teams. Acquired via trade in August, Phillips has been a dominant force up front for Gang Green’s defensive line. Through eight games, he has logged 21 total tackles, 11 stops, four pressures, and two sacks, while forcing a fumble. Fresh out of the bye week, the Jets will host rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel and the 2-6 Cleveland Browns on Sunday. While Cleveland’s record doesn’t jump off the page, the Browns feature one of the NFL’s premier defensive units, a group more than capable of causing problems for Justin Fields and Gang Green’s offense. According to Pro Football Focus, Cleveland owns the league’s highest overall defensive grade at 85.2, paired with a dominant 88.9 pass-rush mark. As Phillips emphasized, the Jets’ success will hinge on playing complementary football, each phase supporting and elevating the other, if they hope to carry momentum out of the bye week.