Grading the Jets in NFL Week 8 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Jets head coach Robert Saleh reacts during the fourth quarter against the Bengals at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
OFFENSE: A
The Jets showed up for Halloween looking like a fully functioning offense. Mike White was a big reason for that. He played an unbelievable game in his first NFL start. White threw for 405 yards, three touchdown passes and even caught a two-point conversion. Rookie Michael Carter also was huge, finishing with 172 yards in total offense. As a team, the Jets racked up 511 yards of offense, en route to 34 points. They came into this game averaging 272.3 yards per game and just 13.3 points. White led the Jets on a touchdown drive on the first series and two touchdowns in the first half. The Jets hadn’t scored in the first quarter or led in the first half before this game.
DEFENSE: B+
The Jets got their first interception of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Shaq Lawson batted Joe Burrow’s pass into the air and caught it late in the fourth quarter deep in Bengals’ territory with the Jets down five. (Raise your hand if you had Lawson getting the Jets’ first pick? Put your hand down, you’re lying). It led to the game-winning drive. The Bengals scored 31, but the Jets had a huge goal-line stand in the first quarter, ending with Quinnen Williams sacking Burrow on fourth down. They held rookie Ja’Marr Chase (754 yards coming in) to just 32 receiving yards and Joe Mixon, the NFL’s third-leading rusher, to 33 yards on the ground.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B-
Matt Ammendola missed his first field-goal try from 54 yards, but he made his next two (both from 24). Braxton Berrios had a 35-yard kick return and a 16-yard punt return.
COACHING: A
It wasn’t perfect by any means, but the Jets came out ready for this game, unlike last week. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur called a good game and used some creative and trick plays. Where have they been? The Jets came out throwing when Cincinnati probably expected them to run with a quarterback making his first NFL start. White led them down the field on the opening series. The defense had some big breakdowns but also some big plays. It was a big change from last week. Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich lit a fire under the defense and they responded.
