Jets' report card vs. Miami Dolphins in Week 4
Darren Waller of the Miami Dolphins catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, 2025. Credit: Getty Images/Megan Briggs
OFFENSE: D
When the first two drives cover a combined 106 yards on 20 plays but both end in fumbles and zero points, it’s a poor effort. Justin Fields at least looked healthy and his ability to scramble from the pocket — highlighted by his 43-yard touchdown run — was impressive. Garrett Wilson was a non-factor for most of the game but finished with six catches for 82 yards and a late, leaping 23-yard touchdown reception.
DEFENSE: F
Maybe the Jets didn’t see the transaction wire about Darren Waller coming out of retirement and being traded to the Dolphins because his debut after having not played since 2023 included two touchdown catches. The Jets have yet to force a takeaway this season. Three different players had a chance to tackle De’Von Achane on his 9-yard TD run but none of them could. The Jets had zero sacks and were credited with zero quarterback hits.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D
Nick Folk kicked a career-long 58-yard field goal — at age 40! — and added a 50-yarder while punter Austin McNamara may be the most consistent player on the team. But Braelon Allen nearly lost a fumble on the kickoff return in which he injured his knee, Isaiah Williams did fumble the kickoff to start the third quarter and then Williams fair-caught a punt at the 3 but let the one in the final half minute clang around and get downed at the 1.
COACHING: F
Aaron Glenn keeps harping on penalties and turnovers, but nothing ever changes about them. Those have to be eradicated for the Jets to start winning. In terms of the game management, Glenn opted to go for a fourth-down on the second possession rather than try a 54-yard field goal and the result was a sack and fumble. Glenn called it “ridiculous” to suggest the Jets should have gone away from their successful early running game to get Wilson more involved but it’s hard to watch a team struggle when one of its best players is mitigated.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
