The whistle blew. And MetLife Stadium went so quiet, so quickly, it was as if someone had hit a massive mute button.
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The Jets endured a roller coaster of an opening day, as they experienced lots of good with some bad in a heartbreaking 23-22 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
But Ryan Fitzpatrick’s interception in the final minute was not the decisive play. NY led 22-20 before the Bengals connected on a 47-yard field goal with 54 seconds remaining.
With the Bengals retooling/hurting at the offensive skill positions, this was a game the Jets needed to win if they had any hope of improving on last season’s 10-6 mark.
The defensive line was dominant, sacking Andy Dalton seven times. The Buffalo Bills ground game is averaging 65 yards per contest, and LeSean McCoy leads the way with 58 yards and one touchdown. The reliable veteran, who held off Duke rookie Ross Martin in training camp, also had a 22-yard attempt blocked in the first quarter by Margus Hunt’s tip of a low kick. After an 11-play, 63-yard drive, the Cardinals would set up for a game-winning field goal with 41 seconds remaining, but the 47-yarder would miss wide left and the Patriots would escape with the win.
Darrelle Revis is used to seeing green on his jersey.
Green might have dismantled Revis Island once and for all. But they faltered in the red zone – where they scored on only two of five opportunities. Poor execution. Its something we pride ourselves on.
Defense is what characterized the Jets’ performance Sunday.
“I can take a punch on the chin”, Revis said. “That can’t be us”. He became just the sixth player since the AFL/NFL merger to log two 150-yard receiving games in a season opener.
After failing to put the ball in the hands of their reliable backs, the Jets settled for three. He engineered the game-winning drive that ended with a Mike Nugent field goal with 54 seconds remaining, and was locked-in to his favorite target all afternoon – regardless if the unbelievable Revis was defending.
Folk is a man who rarely misses. In 17 games, the Jets are 2-4 when he catches fewer than six passes.
“I’m not going to lie to you, it doesn’t feel good not catching balls and scoring touchdowns”, Marshall said after Monday’s walk-through practice. It wasn’t pretty, but they got the job done.
Three was the number of times NY worked the ball inside the 10-yard line.
In addition, Nugent said the Bengals practiced their end-of-game field goal situation earlier in the week. We went over it in the coaching staff meeting.
The Bengals started previous year 8-0. However, we now know that his troubles last season against the top receivers weren’t just related to the wrist injury that hindered his bump-and-run skills.
With a short turnaround and a game Thursday night, Bowles’ focus is squarely on the Bills. Even though his teams had lost five-straight games (including playoffs) in which Revis was on the opposing team, Lewis was not surprised to see Green do what he did Sunday. He made three completions of 40 yards or more and did not seem in the least bit affected by the loss of receivers Mohamed Sanu or Marvin Jones.
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The Good: Rookie punter Lachlen Edwards had a very impressive National Football League debut.
