Grading the Jets against the Falcons in Week 13
OFFENSE: C
The first three scoring drives for the Jets consisted of one play for 2 yards, two plays for 65 yards and four plays for 1 yard as they took advantage of the field position the special teams granted them and a Falcons defender falling down in coverage on a deep pass from Tyrod Taylor to Adonai Mitchell. In the fourth quarter, the 15-play, 65-yard drive was legit. Taylor capped that with a 10-yard run, and his 14-yard scramble sparked the drive for the game-winning points. Mitchell, acquired from the Colts in the Sauce Gardner trade last month, caught eight passes for 102 yards, both career highs. The 52-yard scoring catch was the first of his career.
DEFENSE: D
It definitely wasn’t a great day as Bijan Robinson ran for 142 yards and had another 51 receiving, tight end Kyle Pitts caught seven passes for 82 yards, former Giants receiver David Sills V scored his second career touchdown, juking through the secondary, and Kirk Cousins threw for 234 yards. But when the Jets needed stops late, they found them with a pair of three-and-outs (with 1 total yard gained on the six plays) in the final 1:53. Still no interceptions on the season for the Jets, but Micheal Clemons and Tony Adams each had a sack.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Nick Folk’s 56-yard field goal as time expired was the longest game-winning kick in Jets history but far from the only bright spot for a unit that has thrived all year long. Qwant’ez Stiggers was on the spot to recover a muffed punt at the 2 to set up the Jets’ first touchdown and Isaiah Williams had an 83-yard kickoff return to the 15 that set up the fourth-quarter field goal that tied it at 17.
COACHING: B+
Aaron Glenn navigated the end of the game smartly with good timeout use despite the quirky four changes of possession in the final two minutes. He moved to 3-for-3 on challenges this season (Kansas City is the only other team that hasn’t lost one) when he red-flagged the spot on a run by Breece Hall that initially was ruled short of a first down in the third quarter. There still are too many penalties.
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.
