The Jets have won back-to-back games. Aside from the scoreboard showing them with more points in both of those outings, another thing has stood out, too.
Featured running back Le'Veon Bell has played less and less in the Jets' last two games.
Bell has averaged 21 touches between those two games, but the numbers aren't there. He's averaged 2.6 yards per carry and factoring to that are season-lows in snaps played in both games.
Prior to Week 10, Bell's season-low snap total came in Week 6 where he still was on the field for 83 percent of the Jets' plays on offense. Against the Giants and Redskins the past two games, Bell appeared in 75 percent and 56 percent of snaps, respectively.
Jets coach Adam Gase explained the reasoning why that has been the case on Monday, citing monitoring Bell's workload while also passing some love over to Bell's teammates in the process.
"We're trying to keep (Bell) as fresh as possible throughout the game, but at the same time, giving him his touches. I feel like he's got a lot of touches this entire year and we're just trying to make sure we keep him rolling throughout the rest of the season, we've still got a lot of football left and we're just trying to make sure that we have a strong 16-game season from him," Gase said.
Bell had 18 carries for 59 yards with a score in the 34-17 win against the Redskins. Worth noting, Bell has scored in both of the Jets' last two games as well.
But Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery have cut into Bell's workload as of late, including 16 and 15 snaps played against the Redskins, respectively. That attributed to a season-high in rushing yards (115) and carries (33) for Gang Green.
"I just think all of those guys, they deserve to play," Gase said on the committee-approach to rushing the ball. "They practice hard every day. We're trying to mix in some of the runs that we're doing, I think there's certain things those guys do real well."
All things considered, giving Bell less might mean more when it matters. Currently at 3-7, the Jets have a very small hope for the playoffs. They'd likely have to win the rest of their games.
Assuming that doesn't happen, keeping Bell fresher for 2020 is a smart play.
The 27-year-old sat out the 2018 season. Prior to that with the Steelers, he had some massive tread taken off his tires. In five seasons with the Steelers, Bell had at least 244 rushing attempts four of the five seasons, including a 321-carry season, plus he had at least 75 catches in three of those years.
The current state of the Jets' offensive line hasn't vibed well with his patient running style. Lowering that tread in hopes that an improved line in 2020 will gel better with Bell isn't the worst plan to consider, assuming an improved offensive line would help quarterback Sam Darnold, too.
Against the Redskins, the current Jets offensive line gave a glimpse into what improved play in the trenches could do. The Jets dominated and it's no coincidence that both Darnold and the rushing attack played well when he was only sacked twice for a total loss of eight yards and while the Redskins only had two tackles for loss.
Bell didn't sound upset at all about his touches when speaking with SNY following his team's win over the Redskins, either. He was very complimentary of his offensive line, in fact.
"We played as close to the cleanest game that we can play so far this year," Bell said. "Those guy [offensive line] did great. Covered guys up well on the double teams, protected well, those guys played real solid."
Regardless, Bell's touches throughout the remainder of the 2019 season will be something worth monitoring.