New York Jets enjoy more good performances than bad in Week 16 win
For the remainder of the season, I will be giving my picks for the best and worst performers on the New York Jets each week, utilizing a scoring system based on a series written by Michael Nania in the past.
Each player listed as a “stud” will receive a positive score ranging from 1 (solid) to 5 (dominant) based on their impact level, while each player listed as a “dud” will receive a negative score ranging from -1 (below average) to -5 (horrendous). The sum of all players’ scores will be equal to the Jets’ scoring margin from the game. In this case, the Jets won by five points (26-21), so all players’ scores will add up to a total of five.
Here are my studs and duds from the Jets’ Week 16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Studs
OT Conor McDermott: +1
Conor McDermott starts us off for hauling in Zach Wilson’s seventh passing touchdown of the year. McDermott also did well over a short relief appearance at right tackle (8 snaps) as he allowed zero pressures.
Happy for our guys to get the win. Favorite TD of the year right here. Merry Christmas and Go Jets! @nyjets pic.twitter.com/qva6qK7Dv3
— Zachary Wilson (@ZachWilson) December 27, 2021
OT Morgan Moses: +1
Morgan Moses snapped a cold streak by earning an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 74.4, his best since Week 11. Moses only allowed one pressure and opened lanes in the run game earning the 11th-highest run-blocking grade among tackles this week.
OT George Fant: +2
George Fant has been outstanding all season and that continued this week as he allowed zero pressures, his eighth game allowing one pressure or less. This resulted in a dominant pass-blocking grade of 88.2, second-best among tackles this week, and a season-high.
S Jason Pinnock: +2
In his first game starting at safety, Jason Pinnock dominated allowing zero catches and earning the fifth-best overall grade among safeties at PFF this week. Pinnock also had a couple of run stuffs, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup.
LB C.J. Mosley: +2
C.J. Mosley had a huge game with 10 tackles, two stops, and a strip-sack. On the season, Mosley now has nine games with at least 10 tackles.
WR/KR Braxton Berrios: +3
With the Jets down their top three receivers, Braxton Berrios stepped up as per usual. Berrios caught all five targets for four first downs. However, his biggest impact was on a beautiful 102-yard kick return touchdown.
A free agent this offseason, the Jets shouldn’t think twice about resigning him. He is a dynamic returner and a spark on offense.
S Will Parks: +3
Signed a mere five days before the game, Will Parks had one of the best games by any safety in the NFL with the second-highest PFF grade at 82.3. Parks was targeted three times and allowed only one reception for one yard.
In the run game, Parks recorded one stop and four total tackles.
Not a bad Jets debut for the six-year veteran.
CB Bryce Hall: +3
Bryce Hall has been a consistent bright spot for the Jets and that continued on Sunday. Hall allowed only two receptions on five targets for 28 yards.
Hall had a crucial pass break up in the end zone on a deep pass from Trevor Lawrence that landed in the hands of Laquon Treadwell. On top of that, Hall recorded six tackles and three stops.
The second-year corner has been outstanding this year and continues to improve every week.
Bryce Hall coverage last 4 games
PHI: 2/3 passing for 9 yds, 1 PBU
NO: 1/2 passing for 6 yds
MIA: 3/6 passing for 17 yds, 1 TD, 3 PBU
JAX: 2/5 passing for 28 yds, 1 PBUOver this span he's allowing:
– 3.8 yds per target
– 15.0 yds per game
– 0.44 yds per cover snap#Jets— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) December 27, 2021
RB Michael Carter: +4
Michael Carter looked back to form, running all over the Jaguars this past Sunday. On only 16 attempts, Carter ran for a whopping 118 yards while also adding in two receptions for six yards. He also tied a career-high with five missed tackles forced as a rusher.
This score would’ve been a perfect 5 if Carter was able to get in the endzone on a reception near the goal line, but he was stopped inches shy. Still, Carter had the sixth-highest rushing grade and third-highest elusiveness rating among running backs this week. The Jets got a difference-maker in Carter.
QB Zach Wilson: +4
In a duel with the number one overall pick, number two came out on top. Zach Wilson had a career-high in adjusted completion percentage at 84.2%, ranking fourth-highest of any quarterback this week.
It was also a breakout game for Wilson as a runner. Wilson earned a staggering 22.8 yards per carry with 91 yards on only four carries. He is now the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to rush for over 90 yards and one touchdown on only four carries.
The previous QB record for most rushing yards with a TD on 4 carries or less was 63 by the Raiders' Vince Evans in 1987
No QB has even hit 90+TD with 5 carries
The last QB to rush for 90+TD on 6 carries was Mike Vick in 2002 (6/91/1 vs. CAR)
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) December 27, 2021
Play: 👉 the Jet X Offseason Simulator
Duds
LB Quincy Williams: -1
Quincy Williams was tagged with allowing four receptions on five targets for 33 yards, resulting in two first downs. He was solid against the run with five total tackles including two stops.
DE Bryce Huff: -2
On a day when the Jets needed Bryce Huff to step up, he was invisible. Huff only had one pressure on 15 pass-rush snaps. Against the run he was slightly better, tying a season-high with three tackles.
CB Javelin Guidry: -2
Javelin Guidry started at slot cornerback with Michael Carter II sidelined but had another rough day in coverage. Against the Jaguars, he was targeted seven times and allowed six catches for 57 yards and two first downs.
Guidry also struggled against the run. His PFF run defense grade of 32.6 was the lowest on the team.
WR Jeff Smith: -2
Jeff Smith only had 13 offensive snaps and that was all it took to get relegated to the bench. With an opportunity to step up, Smith had a brutal drop on a perfect third-down pass from Wilson in the second quarter.
The converted quarterback only has six catches over 125 offensive snaps on the year. He won’t get many more opportunities if he continues playing like this.
CB Brandin Echols: -4
After a career day last week, Brandin Echols came back down to Earth, getting torched this week. Echols allowed all fives of his targets to be caught for 68 yards and five first downs. He was also charged with an early pass interference penalty that gave the Jaguars a first-and-goal opportunity.
Echols is trying to prove he deserves to keep his starting job in 2022. Letting up 27% of the Jaguars’ passing yards and the highest passer rating when targeted on the Jets is not going to help his case.
LB Jarrad Davis: -4
Jarrad Davis was a liability in coverage allowing all four targets to be caught for 39 yards and a pair of first downs. Davis allowed 24 yards after the catch and earned the worst coverage grade in the NFL among linebackers this week at 28.9.
WR Denzel Mims: -5
What a disappointing season it’s been for Mims. He only has one catch in his last four games despite an increase in playing time with injuries at wide receiver.
Mims came up with zero catches on two targets against the Jaguars. Even worse, Mims had the third-lowest PFF run-blocking grade in the league among wide receivers this week (34.1).
I was a big believer in Mims before the season but at this point things are looking bad for him. In his last 13 games, Mims averaged 0.9 catches for 12.8 yards and did not break a single tackle. His spot on the 2022 opening-week roster is no longer secured, let alone the opportunity to start.
Other Notes:
Overall, this was a huge team win with almost every position group having one of its best games of the year. Despite a quarter of the team being hurt or on the COVID-19 list, including head coach Robert Saleh, the Jets got their fourth win of the year.
