Jets’ priority Sunday: Hit Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt early, before it’s too late

CLEVELAND — Nick Chubb takes delight in running over anyone who tries to tackle him, and the Browns bruising back gets stronger as the game gets longer.

Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is pushing his group to stop that trend. Ulbrich said his defense has to punish Chubb from the start of Sunday’s game to keep him from doing that to the them later.

“He’s a guy that loves to wear people down,” Ulbrich said. “I read some statistic from last year where the vast majority of his explosives came in the fourth quarter, which is a byproduct of a guy that’s wearing you down. We have to go the opposite way.

“It’s not surviving this guy; it’s punishing this guy. In the fourth, it’s going to be on our terms and that’s where we wear you down.”

Strong words from Ulbrich, but the Jets believe they’re up for the challenge of containing Chubb and fellow running back Kareem Hunt on Sunday in Cleveland.

The Jets have upgraded the talent on all three levels of their defense and their confidence is high after shutting down Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ ground game in Week 1. The Jets held Baltimore to 63 yards rushing.

Ulbrich loved the edge that the defense played with last Sunday. He believes it will take that same type of approach and mentality when trying to stop Chubb and Hunt — arguably the NFL’s best backfield.

“There was definitely some edge to the guys,” Ulbrich said. “Just a different sort of energy like, ‘You’ve got to deal with us today.’ That was exciting to be around and to feel.”

The Jets could use that on offense, where there was little energy and zip against Baltimore. The Jets failed to get into the end zone until nearly 59 minutes had passed.

Robert Saleh is sticking with Joe Flacco as his quarterback this week. A big challenge will be finding ways for the Jets’ evolving offensive line to keep defensive end Myles Garrett away from the 37-year-old Flacco and give him time to make plays.

The play of the defense last week was encouraging though. The Jets ranked last overall in defense and 29th against the run last season.

Ulbrich is confident the defense can show it wasn’t a fluke, and it’s sustainable.

“It’s debilitating to an offense,” Ulbrich said. “When they see us acting a fool on our side of the ball, smashing in the run game and the pass game, celebrating, talking and doing all that, I think that’s demoralizing sometimes to an offense like, ‘Damn, we don’t got no shot today.’

“They see us celebrating and enjoying this game and playing for each other and playing with edge. I always felt the great defenses have that. We’re working our butts off to continue to let that grow.”

Ulbrich credits new linebacker Kwon Alexander for bringing out the fire and energy. Alexander is “the one that kind of unhinges us a little bit,” according to Ulbrich.

That edge will be an important component against Chubb and Hunt. The Browns’ run game is different from the Ravens. It’s less misdirection and containing the quarterback, instead its more hard-nosed, old-school football. Cleveland uses its backs to beat teams.

Chubb finished in the top three in rushing yards two of the last three years. He ran for 141 yards and 22 carries in the Browns’ Week 1 win over Carolina.

“You pretty much know where they’re running, how they’re going to do it and they don’t care,” Saleh said.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett was 18-for-34 passing for 167 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers. Chubb and Hunt combined for 187 yards on the ground, and Hunt had a rushing and a receiving touchdown.

“We got to go in with our big-boy pads on,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “We know they’re going to run the ball. Cleveland’s always been a team that’s going to run the ball first.”

Edge rusher Carl Lawson said, “It’s crazy when you got, in my opinion, at least two top 10 backs in the league in the backfield. Very hard challenge.”

Eliminating explosive plays is still a major emphasis. The Jets allowed touchdown passes of 25, 17 and 55 yards last week. Brissett can hurt them with his arm, but the emphasis for Sunday will be containing Chubb and Hunt.

“They’re going to absolutely try and run the ball like they always do it,” Ulbrich said. “If we don’t stop the run and if we don’t play the run well, we’re going to have a rough day on Sunday.”