The New York Jets had a difficult afternoon against the Kansas City Chiefs, surrendering five touchdownsin a 35-12 road loss. The defense had a few opportunities to change the game's direction, but it couldn't consistently slow down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense.
There were, however, some individual performances worth recognizing. Pro Football Focus grades offer a closer look at how players performed within their assignments, providing another perspective beyond the final score. Even in a game when the defense gave up 35 points, certain players managed to make their presence felt.
David Bailey was the obvious standout. Returning after missing the previous game with a groin injury, the young edge rusher made life uncomfortable for Mahomes,
recording two sacks and forcing two fumbles on the same drive. His performance provided one of the few defensive highlights in an otherwise disappointing afternoon for Aaron Glenn's group.
Bailey wasn't the only Jet to earn recognition from PFF. Several other defenders graded out among the team's best performers against Kansas City, offering a glimpse of the individual contributions that got overshadowed by the loss. Here are the five highest-graded Jets players on defense against the Chiefs in Week 9,according to Pro Football Focus.
Jets' highest-graded defensive stars in Week 9
5. Jack Heflin, defensive tackle — 64.0
4. Minkah Fitzpatrick, safety — 69.8
3. Will McDonald IV, EDGE — 71.8
2. Brandon Stephens, cornerback — 75.8
1. David Bailey, EDGE — 76.3
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: PFF: 5 highest-graded Jets players on defense in Week 9 vs. Chiefs
