The Miami Dolphins decimated the New York Jets 34-13 on a cold evening at MetLife Stadium. This marks the first time since 2009 that the Dolphins have swept the Jets. Now at 4-10, the Jets continue their free fall and their futures looks bleak. Questions at quarterback remain after a poor showing by Bryce Petty and the Jets defense continued to struggle on Sunday.
New York Jets Week 15 Takeaways
The Jets made mental mistakes on all phases, including special teams, when Dolphins defensive back Walt Aikens blocked Lachlan Edwards punt and scored a touchdown. Here are three key Jets Week 15 takeaways.
Offensive Woes Continued
It was only a week ago when the Jets faithful were hopeful the team had found their answer at quarterback. Unfortunately it doesn’t take long for dreams to be shattered in the NFL. After an impressive opening touchdown drive by Petty and the Jets, the rest of the game Saturday night was forgettable. Petty finished the night 20-for-36 for 235 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He also fumbled twice in the first quarter, one resulting in a turnover.
While at times it appeared that Petty had command of the offense, overall he struggled and missed several open throws. However, not all of the blame can be placed on Petty’s shoulders. The Jets offensive line didn’t have an answer for the opposing defensive line. Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake had a huge game, including an interception, fumble recovery and a sack. The Jets offensive line struggled in pass protection and in the fourth quarter an unblocked Wake and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh pulverized Petty, who left the game with a chest injury. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick came in for relief, but was unable to generate any offense. Petty remains a question mark going into 2017, but the Jets have bigger issues. It won’t matter who the quarterback is next year if the Jets don’t address the issues at offensive line.
Secondary Allowed Big Gains
With their playoff hopes on the line, the Dolphins turned to quarterback Matt Moore after Ryan Tannehill tore his ACL the previous week. Despite getting his first start in five years, Moore had a field day against the Jets defense, finishing 12-of-18 for 236 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Moore relied heavily on wide receiver Jarvis Landry who eclipsed 108 yards and had a touchdown. In the third quarter Landry put his speed on display, beating safety Calvin Pryor on a slant route for a 66-yard score.
Big plays have been the Achilles heel for the Jets defense. In the second quarter, on a third-and-nine, Moore’s deep pass to wide receiver Kenny Stills led to a 52-yard touchdown. Stills beat rookie cornerback Juston Burris for the score, who made his first NFL start due to Buster Skrine‘s injury. Burris did redeem himself with an interception in the third quarter, but he got beat on another big play when Moore connected with Landry for 31 yards. The Jets allowing chunk plays has been a common theme in 2016 and that is an area they must address in the off-season.
Glimmer of Hope
The 2016 season has been a disaster for the Jets, but there have been a few bright spots, including running back Bilal Powell. With Matt Forte limited, Powell ran for 84 yards on 14 carries. He has been the stable of consistency for the Jets and, despite how putrid the Jets are on offense, Powell has been one of the few bright spots.
Wide receiver Robby Anderson is showing promise and has emerged as Petty’s safety net. Anderson finished Saturday night with 80 yards on four receptions, including a 40-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive. He was also the recipient of a 28-yard pass right from Petty right before the quarterback left the game due to injury. Despite the embarrassing defeat, the Jets are most likely to get a top five draft pick. Hopefully the team can put it to good use and address a few key needs.
The Jets must put this loss behind them as they travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts to take on the New England Patriots on Saturday, Dec. 24.
