That much was evident during the team’s season-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals this past weekend.
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Dalton didn’t play the closing minutes of a half during the preseason. Folk nailed the field goal to bring the lead up to 22-20, but the Jets defens was unable to hold back the Bengals. Leonard Williams led the way for Gang Green with 2.5 of those seven sacks.
On the flip side, the Jets’ other superstar player who desperately wishes it was 2010 – Matt Forte – was brilliant for NY on Sunday. Fitz didn’t turn the ball over until the final seconds of the 4th quarter were ticking down and there were even brief moments when he seemed to be in mid-season form, but he’d be the first to admit that he left way too many plays on the field.
3 – Sammy Watkins vs. Darrelle Revis Watkins may or may not be 100 percent, but Revis is coming off a rough week against A.J. Green, who had 12 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown.
Of course, the Jets got a field goal, and a short while later, so did the Bengals, and after a HUGE drop by Marshall, a run-of-the-mill Ryan Fitzgibbons ended this one the same way as last season’s painful loss to the Bills – with an interception.
I take it on my shoulders, Folk said. “They definitely came in with a good game-plan”.
The New York Jets proved that they can compete with the AFC’s elite in Week 1.
“We saw them and we worked things out and we moved on to Buffalo”, Bowles said Monday. “That was the poorest execution I’ve seen on our side, in the red zone, since I’ve been here”.
Fitzpatrick finished 19 of 35 for 189 yards and touchdown passes to Quincy Enunwa and Eric Decker. “That can’t be us”. “We’re not going to discuss it here”. The drive wouldn’t end the way the Jets wanted it, as Nick Folk’s kick was blocked by Cincinnati’s Margus Hunt. Prater missed an extra point wide right with 4:04 left in the season opener, a miscue that almost cost the Lions. Especially considering the Jets lost by only one.
“I’m very confident”, he said.
The Jets’ defensive line had a big day, and it gets a key player back against Buffalo when Sheldon Richardson returns from a one-game suspension.
Those missed opportunities made the difference in the game for the Jets.
Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, who coached Revis from 2009 to 2012, laughed when asked if Revis has slipped. Green and every other Cincinnati Bengals receiver who came into his territory – something we’re not used to seeing from the seven-time Pro Bowler. “Each group made their mistakes, but we’re not going to sit here and lick our wounds”. “And we’ve got our work cut out for us”. He started his 117th straight regular-season game.
And that won’t be easy, considering that the Bills are the only one of the Jets’ first six opponents that didn’t make the playoffs previous year.
A reporter pointed out that Bowles was at his media availability, so he had to speak to reporters anyway, but the coach chose to not delve into any aspects of the loss to the Bengals.
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NY started the game on defense and they started strong. And, it cost the Jets – and set the tone for an uncharacteristically long day for Revis.
