Jets grades vs. Bills: Offense, defense both get failing marks
Nick Folk of the Jets kicks a field goal during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
OFFENSE: F
Well, at least Lindenhurst’s own Jeremy Ruckert scored his first career touchdown. Other than that, it was a complete dud. The embarrassing final statistics – including 154 total yards, 54 net passing yards and 0-for-11 on third downs – did not even tell the whole story because backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor moved the ball in garbage time. When starter Justin Fields left the game to be assessed for a concussion early in the fourth quarter, the Jets had 8 net passing yards. Fields was 3-for-11 for 27 yards.
DEFENSE: F
Normally, holding Josh Allen to 14-for-25 passing for 148 yards would be considered a coup for an opposing defense. Not so much, though, when you allow 224 rushing yards on 43 attempts, including 132 for James Cook, who scored two touchdowns. Cook had a 44-yard TD run on which he escaped the grasp of Quincy Williams, and Allen had a 40-yard run. Allen also slipped away from a clear sack opportunity by Sauce Gardner and made it look way too easy. The Bills possessed the ball for 38:21, had 25 first downs and totaled 403 yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B
Nick Folk made a 51-yard field goal. Austin McNamara averaged 48.6 points on seven punts and put three inside the 20-yard line. Isaiah Davis had a 33-yard kickoff return. Nobody turned over the ball. All in all, not terrible, which on this day was an accomplishment.
COACHING: F
Aaron Glenn now is 0-2 in his head coaching career, following a tough, hard-fought loss to the Steelers with a bellyflop against the Bills. There is no shame to losing to one of the NFL’s best teams, but the Jets were non-competitive, and Glenn accepted blame as the man in charge. The week ahead will be a good early test of his leadership and coaching chops.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
