New York Jets off-the-stat-sheet roundup: vs. Buffalo Bills (part 1)

Michael Nania highlights the most crucial moments that went overlooked by the stat-sheet during the New York Jets’ Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Many of the occurrences on a football field that most directly contribute to the outcome of a play do not get recognized in the box score, and are often not even visible on the television screen.

With this series, those overlooked moments are going to get the recognition they deserve. I will be looking back through each of the Jets’ 16 games in 2019 and pointing out some of the most crucial off-the-stat-sheet plays in each.

We start off with the first half of the Jets’ season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills.

2ND & 2 AT BUF 33 (Q1, 14:26)

Defenders are poorly represented by general box scores largely due to the insignificance of the “total tackles” stat. Oftentimes, defenders get credit for a tackle on a play in which they were responsible for allowing the offense to succeed, especially those in the secondary.

Take Trumaine Johnson, for example. He collected eight tackles in Week 1, his best total as a Jet. Too many will look at that number and interpret it as proof that Johnson excelled, whereas the opposite is true. Johnson was eaten alive by Buffalo, allowing seven catches on eight targets for 110 yards while tossing in a 15-yard facemask penalty. The only reason he collected eight tackles is because the ball was constantly being thrown in his direction.

Johnson lines up too far outside against John Brown on this play and is easily toasted on a drag route to the inside, lacking the speed to cover the ground he afforded at the snap. Despite pressing the line, he does not attempt to jam the route. It’s an easy 13-yard first down pickup for Brown, and Johnson adds a tackle to his stat line after getting smoked.

1ST & 10 AT NYJ 26 (Q1, 12:17)