Heros, zeros and the full blitz from the Jets’ loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
Hero
After curling around Carter Warren and only receiving a light shove from Dalvin Cook, Richie Grant knocked Trevor Siemian’s arm and forced a fumble with under three minutes remaining.
The Jets had the ball at the Falcons’ 48-yard line.
They needed a touchdown to take the lead. But when Grant (two tackles) got the ball on the ground and Andre Smith Jr. recovered it, the Jets surrendered their strong field position.
Zero
Tim Boyle’s benching at the start of the fourth quarter followed a brutal interception, where he overthrew Garrett Wilson near the sideline.
The Jets’ offense had some promising drives, but Boyle finished 14 of 25 for 145 yards and the pick before Trevor Siemian entered.
When the Jets turned to Boyle in Week 11, and then started him in Week 12, he was supposed to provide the elusive spark.
But Boyle’s numbers from the past three appearances paint a different reality: 48 of 77, 360 passing yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. He, too, needed to get replaced.
Unsung Hero
Essentially, Desmond Ridder did everything the Jets’ quarterbacks couldn’t do.
He didn’t turn the ball over.
He even threw a touchdown pass.
It wasn’t a masterful performance by any means.
The Falcons were even outgained by the Jets.
But Ridder finished 12 of 27 for 121 yards and a touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt.
Key Stat
13.3%: The Jets’ 24.1 percent third-down conversion rate has been abysmal, but, somehow, they found a way to lower that Sunday.
They converted just 2 of 15 opportunities, and head coach Robert Saleh said that prevented the Jets from leaning more on the run game — which had its bursts behind Dalvin Cook.
Quote
“We were 3-3 in the bye. Two-game win streak. It definitely is a shocker, to say the least.”
— Cornerback D.J. Reed when asked about the Jets’ free fall
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