Jets-Giants Preseason Game Recap | Green & White Ride RB Israel Abanikanda, D-Line to 3-0 Preseason Record

The Jets defeated the rival Giants, 10-6, at MetLife Stadium to finish the preseason unbeaten for the seventh time in franchise history.

As the Jets gear up for the regular season, 35 players on the 90-man roster did not play Saturday night. QB Adrian Martinez, the UFL’s MVP for the Birmingham Stallions, started the game for the Jets, but it was the Green & White’s pass rush that stole the show. The group recorded 8 sacks, 13 QB hits and 3 tackles for loss in a stifling and impressive performance.

“I think [defensive line coach] Aaron Whitecotton does an unbelievable job with that group every year,” HC Robert Saleh said. “We feel like we’re always going to find ways to have depth and every year we’re going to have to let somebody go that’s a 53-man-roster-caliber player. But there’s some decisions to make on that front and a lot of guys made it difficult today. It was cool to watch all those guys get after it.”

In the second quarter, the Jets recorded 3 sacks, 4 QB hits and had 4 plays that resulted in a loss of yards.

The Jets won the coin toss to start the game and deferred. On the opening kickoff CB Tre Swilling punched the ball out of the hands of Giants’ WR Ayir Asanate. It was recovered by rookie CB Qwan’tez Stiggers at the Giants’ 45-yard line.

On the team’s first offensive series, second-year tailback Israel Abanikanda had 5 carries for 28 yards to set up a successful 38-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein. Abanikanda later broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run on the first possession in the second quarter, the Pittsburgh product’s second score of the preseason.

Abanikanda took a handoff over the right side, got to the second level before spinning out of a tackle and racing to the endzone to give the Jets a 10-0 lead. He finished the game with 9 carries for 83 yards (9.2 yards per carry). He and did not play in the second half.

“I knew I was going to pop off today,” Abanikanda said of the score. “I had a couple of runs early in the game that went for 10 yards or so and I knew one was going to pop, but I didn’t know I was going to get that free.”