KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jets’ much-discussed plan to split carries between running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen fell apart in the second half of a 35-12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, as offensive coordinator Frank Reich’s offense largely abandoned the run entirely once Kansas City built a lead.
Hall, back in the lineup after missing five games with a quad injury, carried the ball 15 times for 61 yards. Allen, who had filled in capably during Hall’s absence, ran eight times for 33 yards but lost a costly fumble. Between them, the two backs combined for just two carries in the entire second half, as the Jets ran the ball only four times total after halftime.
“I think we went away from our bread and butter, which is running the ball,” Hall said after the game. “I think they sped us up a little bit because they got out to a little bit of a lead.”
The shift away from the run is notable because the game was not out of hand for most of the second half. Kansas City led by only nine points through much of the third quarter before the margin grew to 16 late in the period.
Asked directly whether the Jets should have called more running plays, Hall defended the play-calling itself while pointing to execution as the bigger issue.
“I just think they sped us up a little bit,” Hall said. “I think our play calling was fine. I think offensively everybody needed to take a deep breath and lock in and execute what’s being called.”
Despite Hall’s return, Allen actually played more snaps, 36 to Hall’s 27. In the passing game, Hall caught three of four targets while Allen caught both of his two targets.
“I think we just went off the flow of the game,” Hall said. “I think in the first half we had a very balanced attack and we were both running the ball very efficiently. In the second half, we kind of just got away from it. Sometimes that happens when you get down.”
The loss was the Jets’ fourth in a row, and frustration was evident in the locker room afterward. Allen struck a defiant tone when asked how the team moves forward.
“We don’t really have any other choice,” Allen said. “What are we going to do? Pack it up and go home? Nah. We’ve got to [get] back in the building tomorrow and learn from it and get back on the field on Wednesday. We’re all here. We signed up for this. It’s our job at the end of the day. If we want to see different results, we have to make it happen.”
