Sunday was a nice change of pace for the Jets, who beat the Giants, 34-27.
The Jets offense shined at times, while the defense was able to step up in the trenches. The team faced adversity, but rather than folding, New York rallied from a deficit and proved to be New York’s less defunct team (for one day, anyway).
For the Jets, it was a step in the right direction after the team hit rock bottom last Sunday. Here are the best and worst players from the Jets’ Week 10 victory.
Stud: Jets Front Seven
The Jets defensive front stepped up and won them the game on Sunday.
Daniel Jones was sacked six times by the Jets, fumbling and losing the football multiple times. The Jets were also able to bottle up the ever-so-dangerous Saquon Barkley. The Penn State product had 13 attempts for one yard on the day. The Giants as a team had 17 carries for 23 yards.
The Jets’ disruptive presence and the Giants being without some key cogs on the offensive line helped lead to win for Gang Green.
Stud: WR Jamison Crowder
Jamison Crowder was the Jets’ most effective receiver again this Sunday.
He had three catches on the Jets’ opening drive that lead to a touchdown. He managed just two more the rest of the day, but Crowder finished the game with five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.
The Jets would be wise to get him more involved going forward.
Dud: CB Nate Hairston
Nate Hairston had the worst game of any Jets cornerback this season, and that’s saying something given the dire state of the secondary.
The Giants and Daniel Jones picked on Hairston for the majority of the first half. He was penalized multiple times, one of the penalties negating a Nathan Shepherd sack, and beaten for a touchdown. Giants WR Darius Slayton ran a simple slant, but Hairston had his hips turned to the sideline and tripped over himself, leading to a 39-yard score on fourth and three.
Hairston struggled so badly that he was benched and replaced by rookie CB Bless Austin, who was just activated for the first time this season. Austin had not played in a game since last fall at Rutgers when he blew out his knee. He had no preseason reps and minimal practice reps at best.
Stud: S Jamal Adams
Jamal Adams played like a man possessed in the Jets’ win over the Giants on Sunday. The Jets’ third-year safety was absolutely everywhere.
He rattled Daniel Jones all day, lining up at the end of the line of scrimmage. Adams ran over Saquon Barkley twice and stripped Jones of the football both times, including taking the ball right out of the hands of the rookie quarterback and returning it for six.
On one play, Adams recorded a sack, a forced fumble, a recovery and a touchdown. The Jets needed a big day from their superstar after he struggled in the team’s loss in Miami and he delivered.
Dud: The Offensive Line
The turnstile that is the Jets offensive line seems to make the list of duds every Sunday.
The Jets were able to pull off the win on this week, but not without some major hiccups on the offensive line. Darnold had pressure in his face all game long, while Le’Veon Bell was unable to be effective yet again.
Bell was running into a brick wall all game long, as he rushed the ball 18 times for 34 yards and a score. Bell averaged just 1.9 yards on the ground, while the rest of the Jets ‘rushing attack had 42 yards on 11 rushes.
The offensive line has been a consistent issue for the Jets this season and will be something that needs to be seriously addressed going forward.
Dud: DT Quinnen Williams
A game after recording his first-career sack, Jets rookie and first-round pick Quinnen Williams was nowhere to be found.
With Leonard Williams on the opposing sideline, the younger Williams has the spotlight to himself. He avoided it Sunday, however. It’s still early on his career, but with the Giants missing three starting offensive linemen, Williams was ineffective.
As a top-three pick, Williams was supposed to make an immediate impact, but he’s failed to shine thus far. On multiple crucial third downs, he was standing on the sideline. Also, on Golden Tate’s 61-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass, Williams was caught jogging on the play.
