New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields leads the league in average rushing yards per game for a QB this season (59.3). In Week 5, the Jets host the Dallas Cowboys.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer believes his team has a unique weapon that will help defend what Fields brings to the table.
“The good news for us is no one knows him around the league probably better than Matt [Eberflus], being with him for two years. It’ll be a fun chess match, him vs Justin,” Schottenheimer said.
“Well, I think No. 1, he [Fields] presents a number of problems just based on the skill-set: the athleticism, the arm strength, arm talent, [and] the ability to improvise. I mean, I know everyone saw the game last week with the long touchdown run he had on kind of a broken play scramble,” Schottenheimer added.
Fields Has Been Dynamic This Season
Fields doesn’t lead the league in rushing for a quarterback. That crown is currently held by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts with 179 rushing yards. Fields sits one yard behind at 178.
However, it’s important to note that Hurts has his total through four games and Fields has his total through just three games. The former Ohio State product missed the Week 3 tilt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of the NFL’s concussion protocol.
The Jets are one of only three winless teams in football, but don’t let that distract you from some impressive offensive numbers.
The Jets have the second-most “big plays” on the ground with 18 through Week 4, per NFL analyst Marcus Mosher. Those “big plays” are ones that resulted in 10+ rushing yards.
The Jets are also third in the NFL in rushing this season (578 yards), per ESPN.
Knowledge Is Power in the NFL
The Cowboys indeed have an inside man who knows Fields intimately in their building.
Matt Eberflus, the current Cowboys defensive coordinator, previously served as the Chicago Bears head coach. He crossed over with Fields for two seasons in 2022 and 2023.
However, just knowing and being around a player doesn’t always guarantee an advantage.
For example, in Week 3, Eberflus had the same advantage against Caleb Williams when the Cowboys played the Bears. He was part of the brass that selected Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, and he coached him for 12 games before he was fired by Chicago last season.
That supposed advantage didn’t seem to help in that contest.
Williams tied a career high with four touchdown passes; he didn’t throw an interception, and finished with 298 passing yards.
Chicago beat the Cowboys 31-14, giving Ben Johnson his first win as the HC of the Bears. The Jets are hoping for a similar result for Aaron Glenn at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, October 5.
Bold Prediction: Fields Expected to Go off vs. Dallas
Vic Tafur of The Athletic revealed his bold predictions ahead of Week 5. One of those included the Jets upsetting the Cowboys with the help of Fields.
Tafur wrote, “We really want to go against the Cowboys after that emotional, overtime tie against the Packers, but man, there is a huge QB-throwing skill discrepancy here. And the Jets’ defense looked bad against the Dolphins, and New York is on a short week … sigh. We’re going to go with our gut and hope Justin Fields runs for 150. The Cowboys have already allowed three rushes of 15-plus yards by QBs, tied for [the] second most in the NFL.”
According to StatMuse, Fields has five games with 100+ rushing yards in his career. The most he has ever had is 178 rushing yards against Miami in 2022.
Cowboys Believe They Have Secret Weapon to Defend Jets QB Justin Fields