A comeback effort kept the Jets undefeated in the preseason
Against all odds, the New York Jets stayed undefeated.
With starters mostly relegated to baseball caps, the Jets’ reserves kept the team’s chances of a perfect preseason alive with a 24-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on a rainy Monday night at MetLife Stadium. New York (2-0) fell behind 16-0 before its potential future practice squad representatives engineered the comeback win.
Atlanta had most of the highlights in the first half, with star sophomore tight end Kyle Pitts getting one big play in before his evening ended. The 2021 Pro Bowler hauled in a 52-yard reception on the Falcons’ second play from scrimmage, which eventually led to a 23-yard field goal from Younghoe Koo. Atlanta (1-1) originally got on the board during its second drive, with Olamide Zaccheaus earning a 13-yard scoring reception from Marcus Mariota.
Kyle Pitts is ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/cSp8KaClNc
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 23, 2022
Olamide Zaccheaus gettin' all the luv.@LlamaDay pic.twitter.com/GHRsoKQPep
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 23, 2022
While the Jets allowed Atlanta to enter their red zone on four of their first five possessions of the game, the Zaccheaus score was the only six-pointer on those occasions, the damage limited to Koo field goals on the others.
A Denzel Mims reception for 27 yards shortly before the half allowed the Jets to set up a 44-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal that got them on the board.
Denzel Mims making big plays for the #Jets ✈️pic.twitter.com/Onx7lUQTZd
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 23, 2022
New York’s offense experienced a needed jolt upon backup quarterback Chris Streveler‘s entry. The team embarked upon an eight-play, 74-yard drive that ended with the former CFL thrower’s 34-yard scoring hook-up with newly minted tight Lawrence Cager. La’Mical Perine punched in another score from seven yards out on the next possession to give the Jets a permanent lead.
I'm not quite sure how to put this but Lawrence Cager is now TE1 baby! WOW the old WR shows up with his athleticism & ability with the ball in his hands: #TakeFlight #Jets pic.twitter.com/hkdeXW6CLj
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) August 23, 2022
https://twitter.com/nflfootballeve1/status/1561905290567639040
The defense got in on the fun with a shutout second half. They even contributed to the final score when Bradlee Anae took a fumble yielded by his sack of Felipe Franks back 30 yards for the score that created the final margin. Jonathan Marshall likewise had a sack for the Jets’ reserves, one of two tackles for a loss on the evening.
SACK. SCOOP. SCORE.
What a play by @BradleeAnae!#ATLvsNYJ on ESPN pic.twitter.com/o3FhOmiwHQ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 23, 2022
The Jets will wrap up their preseason slate on Sunday afternoon against the New York Giants in the annual MetLife Stadium civil war (1 p.m. ET, WCBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
