The New York Jets have finally won a … wait, hold on. I’m getting some news (that can’t at all be described as “shocking.”). The Jets have just dropped another one-score football game, this time by a 32-26 final to the Miami Dolphins down south.
Week 15 Final
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New York, on the cusp of victory after an Anders Carlson field goal, gave up a huge kick return. They then saw Jason Sanders knock through another 50+ yard field goal, sending the game to overtime.
Once in OT, Miami, who won the coin toss, promptly drove 70 yards on just eight plays to win the game. A Tua Tagovailoa-to-Jonnu Smith touchdown pass finished off Jeff Ulbrich’s squad.
At this point, there’s little to say or analyze—pertaining to the 2024 season. The Jets lost again, and they did so, yet again, in agonizing fashion. The loss officially eliminates them from playoff contention.
The rookie RBs step up
Even without Breece Hall, the Jets’ rookie running backs filled the void in a big way.
Braelon Allen was effective on the ground and through the air when called upon. On the day, he had 43 yards on 11 carries, running hard and downhill. He showed why he was valued by New York and earned a key role in the offense.
As good as Allen was, Isaiah Davis was just as good for New York. The other rookie back went for 40 on 10 carries, coupled with the team’s only rushing touchdown on the day.
He ran downhill consistently, looked shifty with the ball in his hands, and showed a nice burst. This was most apparent on his 17-yard touchdown run in the first half of the game.
He also was impressive in the passing game. Whenever he caught the ball, Davis immediately got upfield and made people miss. The rookie from South Dakota State was, outside of Wilson and Adams, the most effective and consistent option for the Jets on a down-to-down basis.
In a lost season, it is good to see that one position group has shown some real value and staying power for the future. With Hall, Allen, and Davis in tow, the Jets should have a great foundation at running back for years to come in the Big Apple.
Rodgers starts fast and keeps it going
Aaron Rodgers finished with 339 yards and a touchdown on an efficient 29 of 37 passing. It marks the first time Rodgers eclipsed the 300-yard mark with the Jets, and unfortunately, the defense could not give him a chance in overtime.
His lone strike came via a vintage 3-yard touchdown connection with Davante Adams (sprint-out, speed out towards the pylon).
Although the touchdown put the Jets up 20-15 early in the second half, and Jeff Ulbrich’s team did hold a 23-15 lead in the fourth quarter, victory was still not the end result.
Adams went for 109 yards and that score on nine receptions, whereas Garrett Wilson finished with seven catches and 114 receiving yards. Both players looked crisp as route runners and impressive with the ball in his hands. Adams displayed nice strength, while Wilson showed ball-carrier skill comparable to some of the best players in football.
Even the kicking game was on point for the Jets. Kicker Anders Carlson put forth an impressive performance, connecting on all four of his field goal attempts (long of 42 yards).
However, it simply was not enough…again. Complementary football escaped the Jets, mainly due to the struggles of their defense. They cannot get both units to play together, and more importantly, cannot win when it counts.
It is definitely good that the offense has shown signs of life and even signs of success. Until that results in wins, though, said progress does not matter for the Jets.
The defense struggles against speed
While showing some promising signs, the Jets had some big-time struggles against the speed of the Miami Dolphins.
With no Sauce Gardner in the lineup, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle had their way with the New York secondary. Hill had 115 yards receiving and a touchdown, while Waddle had 99 yards. Nobody could keep up with them, and when schemed open, they caused massive issues for the Jets.
Hill’s touchdown came on a critical fourth-quarter drive, while Waddle made a great catch on the ensuring 2-point conversion that knotted up the game.
This was even further exaggerated in overtime. After getting bashed in by Jonnu Smith on two separate possessions, the Dolphins soon went back to Tyreek Hill, which set them up in the red zone. They then finished off the victory with a Jonnu Smith touchdown, which happened to be quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s best throw of the day.
Ironically, the Jets did well against the Dolphins’ rushing attack. They held Miami to 44 net rushing yards on the day and tackled much better when Miami tried to go downhill.
However, the Jets’ defense was a sieve against the pass. They gave up consistent yardage in space and allowed the Dolphins’ playmakers to rack up easy yardage. Whether in the quick game or in the intermediate areas, the Jets did not have the horses to run with Miami.
The Jets must improve in this regard if they want to win more football games this season. How they fare down the stretch in this regard will likely be a key indicator of what type of success the overall Jets roster will have, in terms of wins and losses.
Other notes
- Olu Fashanu is a great player. He is very consistent and talented. He will be the LT in New York for years to come.
- The Jets used a ton of 2 RB sets and motion. Downing’s playcalling is a big reason why the offense found the type of success it did today.
- Morgan Moses makes a massive difference for the Jets. It is a night and day difference when he is on the field vs. when he is off it.
- Jamien Sherwood and Brandin Echols are solid players for the Jets. New York should look into resigning them this offseason.
What’s Next?
Next up for the 3-10 New York Jets is a road date against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The matchup will likely have huge ramifications for the end result of this year’s draft order.
