New York Jets: Bilal Powell to return for Dolphins game on Sunday

The New York Jets get a boost to the running game this weekend with a return of one of their best.

The New York Jets are currently ranked 18th in the league in rushing offense, averaging 105.2 yards per game on the ground. If you take out the Jacksonville game when they racked up 256 rushing yards, the average drops to 75 yards per game. That would put the Jets second to last. Forget the numbers, we have all see it with our eyes. The Jets have gotten nothing done on the ground.

In the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the guy who led the way was Bilal Powell. That afternoon he ran the ball 21 times for 163 yards and a touchdown. His 240 yards on just 51 carries leads the team in rushing. Unfortunately, he was injured before he could get going against the Browns and we haven’t seen him since.

Fortunately for New York, that is about to change. Powell has returned to practice this week and is going to play on Sunday against the Dolphins.

"“It’s another healthy body,” coach Todd Bowles said. “Hopefully he can make some plays.”"

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This is very good news for the Jets. First of all, as we mentioned just before, Powell is the leading rusher.

The Jets are looking for balance on offense. They called 54 pass plays last week. Yes, the Patriots have a terrible pass defense and that played into it, but there is no way John Morton and company want that to continue. Josh McCown simply can’t sustain it and neither can these weapons. There has to be balance, and having Bilal Powell back will help that balance become achievable.

Then we have the long-standing veteran, Matt Forte. Was has been with him this year? This is not the same player that we saw in Chicago for so long.

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The team as a whole has not been great on the ground, this is true. But even when the holes have been there, as Forte inspired a lot of confidence running through them? Not for me he hasn’t. Frankly, he’s gotten to the point where he runs like he is stuck in quicksand. The stats say 3.6 yards per carry but it just doesn’t feel that way, you know?

He may still be active in the passing game, catching 14 out of 16 targets so far, but the running just isn’t what it within the last five years even. We can’t expect greatness out of Elijah McGuire yet being that he is only a rookie. That leaves us with Powell, the back that most of us agree is the most trustworthy of all three.

He will bring a big lift to the Jets on Sunday afternoon.

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