New York Jets Report Card: Week 8

New York Jets Report Card

Week 8: Jets @ Bengals

Quarterback: F

Smith: 20/30, 159 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 2 rushes for 8 yards

Simms: 3/7, 17 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 3 rushes for 35 yards

Smith didn’t have many opportunities on the day, but he still found enough time to throw his customary interceptions. He looked like a deer in headlights against the ferocious front 7 for the Bengals.

Backs: D-

Green: 3 rushes for 20 yards, 1 reception for 7 yards

Ivory: 6 rushes for 11 yards

Powell: 10 rushes for 19 yards, 4 receptions for 20 yards

Move along, nothing to see here.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: D+

Nelson: 8 receptions for 80 yards

Kerley: 3 receptions for 27 yards

Hill: 4 receptions for 23 yards

Sudfeld: 2 receptions for 10 yards

Cumberland: 1 reception for 9 yards

Offensive Line: F

Geno Smith was sacked 4 times for 29 yards, but the play of the offensive line was even worse than that stat would suggest. Geno was under constant pressure from a relentless Bengals defense that also manhandled the Jets offensive line in the running game.

Defensive Line: F

Where was the pass rush? Where was the pressure? Wilkerson snagged a pick and that was funny to watch, but this was the worst game this unit has played this season—by far.

Linebackers: F

True, the Bengals running game was shut down—for the most part. But, frankly, that’s because the Bengals hardly needed to run the ball at all to get this win.

Secondary: F

Speaking of units that had their worst game of the season… the Jets secondary was simply atrocious as they surrendered 5 touchdown passes to Andy Dalton. The Bengals moved the ball practically at will against the Jets through the air. Cromartie, Walls, Milliner, Landry, Wilson… they all looked lost.

Special Teams: C

One of the few bright spots on the day: Nick Folk connected on three 40+ yard field goals. He’s yet to miss a field goal on the season. Joshua Cribbs looked solid if not spectacular as the Jets kick and punt returner. However, the Jets surrendered a huge return on a kickoff right before halftime that set the Bengals up for a late touchdown. Though the Bengals already had a sizeable lead, that was one of the last nails in the coffin.

Coaching: F

The Jets had no answers to anything the Bengals were doing all game. That didn’t change at halftime. The team looked lethargic and confused, and that’s on the coaching staff.

Matt Keach

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