Jets grades vs. Carolina Panthers in Week 7
Tyrod Taylor of the Jets looks on after a game against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
OFFENSE: F
The Jets failed to score a touchdown for the second week in a row, and their passing game is in tatters. At halftime, they had 25 net passing yards and quarterback Justin Fields was 6-for-12 for 46 yards and had been sacked three times. Tyrod Taylor provided a spark in the second half, but he failed at the one thing Fields has been good at: avoiding interceptions. He threw two, both to Jaycee Horn. He also was sacked thrice. Breece Hall, who rushed 11 times for 38 yards, left the game with an injury but eventually returned.
DEFENSE: B
Just as in last week’s 13-11 loss to the Broncos, the defense played well enough to win, holding the Panthers to one touchdown. The unit gave the offense chances to tie the game late with back-to-back three-and-outs. Still, there were no takeaways and a breakdown set up the game’s lone touchdown in the second quarter. Bryce Young hit Chuba Hubbard for a 26-yard gain on a screen pass to the Jets’ 3-yard line. Hubbard initially had three blockers in front of him searching in vain for Jets to block, but none were nearby.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B
Nick Folk made field goals of 34 and 47 yards. Austin McNamara put two of his five punts inside the 10-yard line and had a long of 56. Isaiah Williams had a 30-yard kickoff return and Kene Nwangwu had a 29-yarder. On the flip side, the Panthers got a 45-yard kickoff return from Trevor Etienne.
COACHING: D
Aaron Glenn went 2-for-2 on replay challenges, so it was not all bad. For the second week in a row, though, he eschewed a Hail Mary attempt at the end of the first half and let the clock run out. Steve Wilks’ defense has greatly improved in the past two weeks, but the offense is a wreck. Glenn did do the right thing in benching Fields in favor of Taylor. He did get the desired spark from the backup quarterback. It was not enough, though.
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.
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