The Jets lost to a team that is 1-18 in its last 19 games on Sunday.
Adam Gase’s squad was a no show in Cincinnati, thinking they already had the game won when they arrived. Instead, New York was on the wrong side of NFL history for the second time this season.
The Jets gave the 0-7 Miami Dolphins their first win. No NFL team has ever given two teams who started 0-7 or worse their first wins of the season. New York became that team Sunday, handing Cincinnati its first win of the season and giving Zac Taylor the first win of his head coaching career.
For the Jets, it was two steps back in the wrong direction. Sam Darnold ended the game with a pronounced limp and the Jets offense didn’t sniff the red zone once.
Here are the best and worst players from the Jets’ sluggish and embarrassing Week 13 loss.
Dud: The Offensive Line
Pass protection has been an issue all season for the Jets, but it reared its ugly head in the 22-6 loss.
The Jets offensive line was guilty of six holds and several back-breaking penalties. The Jets offense had no chance with the Bengals defensive front wreaking havoc on the backfield on every play.
Offensive line play has been key to the Jets’ success all season, so it didn’t help that Kelvin Beachum and Tom Compton were penalty machines while Brandon Shell was a turnstile.
Stud: WR Robby Anderson
Despite a not so hot start, Robby Anderson came to play on Sunday.
Anderson dropped a would-be touchdown that was underthrown by Sam Darnold and he had to come back for, but Darnold hit him right in the hands and Anderson could not come up with.
Instead of packing it in for the afternoon, Anderson was the only consistent offensive weapon that was helping move the chains on offense. He finished the game with seven receptions for 101 yards, but that missed touchdown reception loomed large in the Jets’ loss.
Dud: The Secondary
Andy Dalton was able to quickly wipe off whatever rust resulted from him being benched for three games.
Dalton came back with a vengeance and was getting the ball out quickly, picking on the Jets secondary all game. Arthur Maulet has played well in limited playing opportunities, but he was consistently picked on. Same for Maurice Canady. Not to mention that both Maulet and Brian Poole were both banged up on the afternoon.
Jamal Adams, meanwhile, was indivisible all game. When New York needed a stop on third down, he was nowhere to be found. The Jets secondary was bound to break, but it’s discouraging that Adams had one assisted tackle on the day.
The Jets’ ragtag secondary was no match for Cincinnati’s Tyler Boyd and Auden Tate. Dalton completed 22-37 passes for 243 yards and a passing touchdown to Boyd.
Dud: Adam Gase
Adam Gase returned to form on Sunday.
Gase and his staff were woefully underprepared for a Bengals team that was 0-11 on the season. Gase refused to feature his rushing attack when the Bengals statistically have the worst run defense in the NFL. The Jets had 15 designed runs for 53 yards. Le’Veon Bell had just 10 carries for 32 yards and 67 yards of total offense.
The Jets again looked unimaginative on offense, leaving Sam Darnold little to work with. The QB had no help in the running game, his receivers dropped five passes and he had no time in the pocket. Also, Gase gave Brandon Shell no help on the right side when he allowed three sacks at the hands of Carlos Dunlap.
Dud: P Lachlan Edwards
The Jets offense put the team’s defense on its heels all game, but it didn’t help that Lachlan Edwards had his worst game of the season.
The Aussie punter has constantly struggled to make an impact this season and was consistently giving the Bengals great starting field position.
Edwards wasn’t the reason the Jets lost on Sunday, but he certainly didn’t help.
