Michael Nania counts down the best single-game offensive performances for the New York Jets since 2005.
What have been the best individual Jets offensive performances over the past 15 seasons? I set out to answer that question.
Only quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs are included (no tight end had a good enough game to make it).
I took everything into account – not just the simple stats such as total yards, touchdowns, and passer rating. Overlooked contributions such as first downs, drops, sacks taken, and fumbles were considered. Efficiency was also a big factor. Yards per target, first down rate, net yards per pass play, and other measures of efficiency play a huge role.
Every statistic considered was mashed together to create a one-number score that serves as the basis for the ranking, ranging from a score of 35.3 at #50 to 62.1 at #1. This is a difficult thing to accomplish. It’s tough to put together a score that correctly values every number that can be tracked. I did my best, but there are certainly performances both vastly overrated and underrated on the totem pole.
Keep in mind that this list is based entirely on statistics, so there are plenty of great performances left off the list that were underrated by the box score (Sam Darnold vs. the Texans comes to mind first).
Also, the list is not based upon my personal preferences – there are some placements that even I disagree with! Feel free to voice your opinions on the list in the comment section.
Without further ado, here are the 50 greatest offensive performances (statistically) by a New York Jet since 2005 – at least based on this analyst’s scoring system.
50. Thomas Jones at Raiders, 2008 Week 7
Score: 35.27
24 carries, 159 yards, 0 touchdowns, 7 first downs (note: first down totals include touchdowns)
6.6 yards per carry, 29.2% first down rate (league average rushing first down rate is generally about 23.0%)
1 catch, 1 target, 0 yards
2 protection snaps, 0 pressures allowed
49. Shonn Greene at Bengals, 2009 Wild Card
Score: 37.51
21 carries, 135 yards, 1 touchdown, 6 first downs
6.4 yards per carry, 28.6% first down rate
1 protection snap, 0 pressures allowed
48. Jerricho Cotchery at Titans, 2006 Week 1
Score: 37.59
9 catches, 11 targets, 99 yards, 1 touchdown, 6 first downs, 0 drops
9.0 yards per target, 54.5% first down rate
47. Santonio Holmes vs. Bills, 2013 Week 3
Score: 37.88
5 catches, 10 targets, 154 yards, 1 touchdown, 5 first downs, 1 drop
15.4 yards per target, 50.0% first down rate
46. Sam Darnold vs. Cowboys, 2019 Week 6
Score: 38.71
23/32, 338 yards, 13 first downs, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 2 sacks for 13 yards, 5 rushes for 1 yard and 1 first down
9.6 net yards per attempt, 38.2% passing first down rate, 113.8 passer rating
45. Brandon Marshall vs. Redskins, 2015 Week 6
Score: 38.96
7 catches, 9 targets, 111 yards, 1 touchdown, 6 first downs, 0 drops
12.3 yards per target, 66.7% first down rate
44. Jermaine Kearse vs. Panthers, 2017 Week 12
Score: 39.02
7 catches, 10 targets, 105 yards, 1 touchdown, 7 first downs, 0 drops
10.5 yards per target, 70.0% first down rate
43. Chad Pennington at Titans, 2006 Week 1
Score: 39.65
24/33, 319 yards, 16 first downs, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 2 sacks for 17 yards, 2 rushes for 7 yards and 0 first downs, 1 lost fumble
8.6 net yards per attempt, 45.7% passing first down rate, 123.2 passer rating
42. Bilal Powell vs. Dolphins, 2016 Week 15
Score: 39.83
16 carries, 84 yards, 0 touchdowns, 6 first downs
5.3 yards per carry, 37.5% first down rate
11 catches, 12 targets, 78 yards, 0 touchdowns, 4 first downs
15 protection snaps, 1 pressure allowed
41. Laveranues Coles at Titans, 2006 Week 1
Score: 39.87
8 catches, 10 targets, 153 yards, 0 touchdowns, 5 first downs, 0 drops
15.3 yards per target, 50.0% first down rate
40. Curtis Martin at Bills, 2005 Week 6
Score: 40.47
18 carries, 148 yards, 1 touchdown, 6 first downs
8.2 yards per carry, 33.3% first down rate
2 catches, 2 targets, 3 yards, 0 first downs
3 protection snaps, 0 pressures allowed
39. Santonio Holmes at Dolphins, 2012 Week 3
Score: 40.72
9 catches, 14 targets, 147 yards, 0 touchdowns, 7 first downs, 0 drops
10.5 yards per target, 50.0% first down rate
38. LaDainian Tomlinson at Colts, 2010 Wild Card
Score: 40.81
16 carries, 82 yards, 2 touchdowns, 6 first downs
5.1 yards per carry, 37.5% first down rate
4 catches, 5 targets, 17 yards, 2 first downs
3 protection snaps, 1 pressure allowed
37. Jerricho Cotchery at Ravens, 2007 Week 2
Score: 41.43
7 catches, 11 targets, 165 yards, 0 touchdowns, 6 first downs, 0 drops
15.0 yards per target, 54.5% first down rate
36. Robby Anderson vs. Packers, 2018 Week 16
Score: 41.46
9 catches, 13 targets, 140 yards, 1 touchdown, 7 first downs, 1 drop
10.8 yards per target, 53.8% first down rate
35. Santonio Holmes vs. Texans, 2010 Week 11
Score: 41.68
7 catches, 12 targets, 126 yards, 2 touchdowsn, 6 first downs, 0 drops
10.5 yards per target, 50.0% first down rate
34. Shonn Greene vs. Chiefs, 2011 Week 14
Score: 41.74
24 carries, 129 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 first downs
5.4 yards per carry, 12.5% first down rate
3 catches, 3 targets, 58 yards, 2 first downs
3 protection snaps, 0 pressures allowed
33. Bilal Powell vs. Bills, 2016 Week 17
Score: 42.53
22 carries, 122 yards, 0 touchdowns, 7 first downs
5.5 yards per carry, 31.8% first down rate
3 catches, 3 targets, 15 yards, 3 first downs, 1 touchdown
3 protection snaps, 0 pressures allowed
32. Laveranues Coles at Bengals, 2007 Week 7
Score: 42.53
8 catches, 14 targets, 133 yards, 2 touchdowns, 6 first downs, 0 drops
15.7 yards per target, 60.0% first down rate
31. Robby Anderson vs. Panthers, 2017 Week 12
Score: 43.14
6 catches, 10 targets, 146 yards, 2 touchdowns, 5 first downs, 0 drops
14.6 yards per target, 50.0% first down rate
30. Jermaine Kearse vs. Chiefs, 2017 Week 13
Score: 43.42
9 catches, 10 targets, 157 yards, 0 touchdowns, 6 first downs, 0 drops
15.7 yards per target, 60.0% first down rate
29. Eric Decker at Bills, 2016 Week 2
Score: 43.55
6 catches, 8 targets, 126 yards, 1 touchdown, 7 first downs, 0 drops
15.8 yards per target, 87.5% first down rate
28. Chris Ivory at Dolphins, 2015 Week 4
Score: 43.57
29 carries, 166 yards, 1 touchdown, 9 first downs
5.7 yards per carry, 31.0% first down rate
0 catches, 2 targets
7 protection snaps, 0 pressures allowed
27. Brett Favre vs. Cardinals, 2008 Week 4
Score: 43.66
24/34, 289 yards, 14 first downs, 6 touchdowns, 1 interception, 2 sacks for 5 yards
7.9 net yards per attempt, 38.9% passing first down rate, 123.7 passer rating
You probably scoffed at this ranking, and I’m with you! Six touchdowns (Jets franchise record) is an incredible feat. I would rank this game higher if I were doing it personally.
The reason Favre lands this low is that, out of the 12 quarterback performances on the list, this game ranked 11th in both net yards per attempt and first down rate. Efficiency is very important here, and Favre’s efficiency against Arizona was not quite elite despite the record-setting six touchdown passes.
26. Jerricho Cotchery at Titans, 2007 Week 16
Score: 44.00
6 catches, 8 targets, 126 yards, 1 touchdown, 7 first downs, 0 drops
15.8 yards per target, 87.5% first down rate
25. Ryan Fitzpatrick at Giants, 2015 Week 13
Score: 44.10
36/50, 390 yards, 22 first downs, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 3 sacks for 17 yards, 5 rushes for 22 yards and 1 first down
7.0 net yards per attempt, 41.5% passing first down rate, 107.9 passer rating
24. Sam Darnold at Redskins, 2019 Week 11
Score: 44.27
19/30, 293 yards, 15 first downs, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, 2 sacks for 8 yards, 2 rushes for -3 yards and 0 first downs
8.9 net yards per attempt, 46.9% passing first down rate, 121.3 passer rating
23. Bilal Powell vs. Jaguars, 2017 Week 4
Score: 44.40
21 carries, 163 yards, 1 touchdown, 4 first downs
7.8 yards per carry, 19.0% first down rate
4 catches, 5 targets, 27 yards, 2 first downs
6 protection snaps, 0 pressures allowed
22. Robby Anderson vs. Broncos, 2018 Week 5
Score: 45.09
3 catches, 3 targets, 123 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 first downs, 0 drops
41.0 yards per target, 66.7% first down rate
21. Mark Sanchez vs. Bills, 2012 Week 1
Score: 45.58
19/27, 266 yards, 15 first downs, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, 0 sacks for 0 yards
9.9 net yards per attempt, 55.6% passing first down rate, 123.4 passer rating
20. Brandon Marshall vs. Patriots, 2015 Week 16
Score: 45.82
8 catches, 9 targets, 115 yards, 2 touchdowns, 7 first downs, 0 drops
12.8 yards per target, 77.8% first down rate
19. Shonn Greene at Raiders, 2009 Week 7
Score: 45.94
19 carries, 144 yards, 2 touchdowns, 6 first downs
7.6 yards per carry, 31.6% first down rate
18. Thomas Jones vs. Broncos, 2008 Week 13
Score: 46.61
16 carries, 138 yards, 2 touchdowns, 4 first downs
8.6 yards per carry, 25.0% first down rate
2 catches, 3 targets, 21 yards, 1 first down
17. Brandon Marshall vs. Dolphins, 2015 Week 12
Score: 47.08
9 catches, 11 targets, 131 yards, 2 touchdowns, 7 first downs, 0 drops
11.9 yards per target, 63.6% first down rate
16. Brandon Marshall vs. Giants, 2015 Week 13
Score: 47.31
12 catches, 13 targets, 131 yards, 1 touchdown, 8 first downs, 0 drops
10.1 yards per target, 61.5% first down rate
15. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Redskins, 2015 Week 6
Score: 47.54
19/26, 253 yards, 15 first downs, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 0 sacks for 0 yards, 4 rushes for 31 yards, 2 first downs, and 1 touchdown
9.7 net yards per attempt, 57.7% passing first down rate, 113.1 passer rating
14. LaDainian Tomlinson at Bills, 2010 Week 4
Score: 49.02
19 carries, 133 yards, 2 touchdowns, 6 first downs
7.0 yards per carry, 31.6% first down rate
3 catches, 4 targets, 22 yards, 2 first downs
6 protection snaps, 0 pressures allowed
13. Laveranues Coles at Vikings, 2006 Week 15
Score: 49.05
12 catches, 13 targets, 144 yards, 1 touchdown, 8 first downs, 0 drops
11.1 yards per target, 61.5% first down rate
12. Chris Ivory vs. Redskins, 2015 Week 6
Score: 49.48
20 carries, 146 yards, 1 touchdown, 6 first downs
7.3 yards per carry, 30.0% first down rate
3 catches, 3 targets, 50 yards, 2 first downs
8 protection snaps, 1 pressure allowed
11. Sam Darnold vs. Packers, 2018 Week 16
Score: 49.76
24/35, 341 yards, 18 first downs, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 2 sacks for 18 yards, 3 rushes for 4 yards and 1 first down
8.7 net yards per attempt, 48.6% passing first down rate, 128.4 passer rating
And now. . . the top-10.
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