New York Jets Report Card
Week 8: Jets @ Bengals
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.
