New York Jets rookie running back Michael Carter tallies his first NFL touchdown
Michael Carter‘s two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter moved the New York Jets to just a two-point deficit against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium.
Nice push by the left side of the line and Wesco cleaning things up. LaFleur goes with the numbers on this one, as Michael Carter snags his first NFL touchdown. 9-7 Titans nearing the end of the first half. #Jets pic.twitter.com/wfVYuUSjXa
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) October 3, 2021
Mike Vrabel’s squad takes a 9-7 lead into halftime of Week 4 action.
Jets offensive leaders
- PASSING:Â Zach Wilson: (7 of 12, 65 yards, 1 INT)
- RUSHING:Â Michael Carter: (7 carries, 15 yards, 1 TD)
- RECEIVING:Â Corey Davis: (2 receptions, 43 yards)
Titans offensive leaders
- PASSING:Â Ryan Tannehill: (11 of 15, 116 yards)
- RUSHING:Â Derrick Henry (12 carries, 50 yards)
- RECEIVING:Â Jeremy McNichols (2 receptions, 27 yards)
Smash of the Titans
The Jets’ lone consistent silver lining has been the defense’s ability to play well with bad hands dealt to them.
Entering Sunday’s action, the unit was tied for the best red-zone touchdown rate in football, allowing six points on only a third of such drives (tied with Denver and New Orleans). It’s a troubling fact that the defense had that many opportunities in the red zone, but any treks in the right direction are welcome, no matter how macabre.
That number has only gotten better on Sunday. Tennessee ventured inside the Jets’ 20-yard line on three occasions (one set up by an interception, another by a three-and-out on the opening drive) but the Jets held strong.
New York was aided by three sacks over the first half-hour. Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley earned their first quarterback takedowns in green (the former getting his first full sack) since January 2016) while John Franklin-Myers got back on the ledger with his team-best third of the season.
The big John Franklin-Myers sack … credit the coverage and JFM fighting through a late release. #Jets pic.twitter.com/XgEAtH5GiK
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) October 3, 2021
Not everything was perfect: the Jets, frankly, could have gotten away with even less if not for some costly penalties and big gains (i.e. Jeremy McNichols’ run to glory on third and 21). But it’s safe to say that the Jets have at least a legitimate defense again.
Corey in the House
On a Sunday defined by gridiron reunions, Corey Davis, the former first-round pick in Tennessee, got off to a tough start. He was swallowed up by MetLife Stadium’s turf and his subsequent tumble led to a Wilson interception.
Locked down @Kriss1_
📺: Watch #TENvsNYJ on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/oDYOg2s7mP
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 3, 2021
If a baseball-style official scorer was on hand, Davis could’ve been credited with his second or third such error of the year.
However, Davis recovered later in the drive for the biggest gains of the day. He had a 13-yard reception on a third-down (one that saw him recover his own fumble) before putting the Jets in Tennessee territory with a 30-yard tally that helped set up the Jets’ first first-half touchdown of the year.
Wilson wound up finding four different receivers on that prolific drive, but things were put into motion by the veteran and former Nashville dweller Davis. It appears, for the time being, that wherever Davis goes, the Jets—and Wilson—rise and fall with him.
Michael Carter eventually punched it in from two yards out to cap off the aforementioned scoring drive (11 plays, 75 yards, over 5:40 of game time) to earn the long-sought six.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
.@Bryce55H + @BryceHall11 make it a four-sack first half 💪#TENvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/QA4LUe3uh0
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 3, 2021
BOOM 🔨🔨🔨 @quincywilliams_#TENvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/JYG64CQLGM
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 3, 2021
