NY Jets end 2021 preseason in miraculous fashion
- New York Jets 31 (2-0-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles 31 (0-2-1)
- NFL, Preseason Week 3, Final, Box Score
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Two late hookups between James Morgan and Kenny Yeboah allowed the New York Jets to end the preseason on an intriguing high note, tying the Philadelphia Eagles by a 31-31 tally on Friday night at MetLife Stadium.
The second Yeboah tally accounted for 49 yards and an answered preseason prayer.
Well lookie here … Kenny Yeboah answers the preseason prayer. Jets line up to go for the obvious 2-pt attempt. pic.twitter.com/1Ff3WLvuKI
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) August 28, 2021
A between-the-tackles Josh Adams two-point conversion gave the Jets a walk-off tie, as preseason overtime has been abolished.
THIS IS THE COOLEST TIE EVER
📺 WCBS/nyjets.com/Jets app pic.twitter.com/iCzCJslpY7
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 28, 2021
Both New York (2-0-1) and Philadelphia (0-2-1) opted to rest a majority of their starters after lightning storms in East Rutherford pushed back the opening kickoff by nearly a half-hour.
Once the game got underway, Philadelphia needed only five plays to get on the board, earning the last 49 tallies of a 75-yard drive on Boston Scott’s run after a grab from Joe Flacco.
You cannot touch Boston Scott. 49 yards for the touchdown! #PHIvsNYJ @BostonScott2 pic.twitter.com/V9WmiMqFdI
— NFL (@NFL) August 28, 2021
The Jets responded quickly, as Josh Johnson’s first drive of the preseason ate up over seven minutes of game time and ended with a fourth-and-goal scoring hookup to Lawrence Cager.
Josh Johnson to Lawrence Cager on fourth down. Fade. Touchdown. #Jets pic.twitter.com/w7eCxMhbC4
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) August 28, 2021
Philadelphia fought back with two more touchdowns before the half let out while the Jets could only counter with a Matt Ammendola field goal.
Rookie Kenneth Gainwell scored from five yards out while the former Jet Flacco found J.J. Arcega-Whiteside in the final stages of the first half. Arcega-Whiteside ended his 42-yard touchdown with five seconds left to go in the half.
Kenneth Gainwell lookin’ like a draft steal 🤭pic.twitter.com/btsLJSjvho
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 28, 2021
Flacco to JJ Arcega-Whiteside 💥
Eagles (+170 ML) take an 11-point lead!
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/026ttirfoJ
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) August 28, 2021
New York was able to mount a quarterback in the second half, where all the snaps under center went to James Morgan.
Philadelphia added a Jake Elliott field goal and also stole an interception via Kevon Seymour, but the Jets struck back on a three-yard scoring from Ty Johnson as the third quarter ended.
In the fourth, Morgan found Kenny Yeboah for a 21-yard six-pointer, though a failed attempt to duplicate that connection on the two-point conversion preserved a one-point lead for Philadelphia.
Another tough run by Ty for the TD!
📺 WCBS/nyjets.com/Jets app pic.twitter.com/WUyARUgLvB
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 28, 2021
TD KENNY! @Kenny_Yeboah84
📺 WCBS/nyjets.com/Jets app pic.twitter.com/q9Iz76tyih
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 28, 2021
There was one more opportunity for the Jets to steal a victory outright, but Michael Jacquet returned a Daniel Brown fumble 32 yards to re-establish an eight-point lead for the Eagles.
Scoop and score! 🚨
Michael Jacquet strips the ball and takes it to the house #FlyEaglesFly
(via @NFL)
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 28, 2021
However, as previously mentioned at the top, New York ended the preseason on a high note through a summer miracle.
Morgan launched a 50-yard Hail Mary to Yeboah for their second scoring hookup of the day, giving the Jets a chance to save face on the scoreboard. Adams then finished things off with his game-tying walk-off two-point conversion.
The undrafted rookie tight end finished with an even 100 yards and two scores on four receptions. Morgan threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns to one interception on 13 of 23 passing. Josh Adams led the way on the ground (62 yards on 12 carries).
The Jets will now prepare for their regular-season opener on Sept. 12 in Carolina, where Sam Darnold and the Panthers loom in the Week 1 slot (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
