The Ravens came into Thursday night’s matchup as two-touchdown favorites and there is no question why. Baltimore clinched its second consecutive AFC North title with Thursday’s 42-21 win over New York.
Baltimore has the most dominant offense in the league, while its defense isn’t afraid to punch you in the mouth. The Ravens offense operated at a video game pace, even with Lamar Jackson hobbled by a quad injury and made a mockery of the Jets No. 2 ranked run defense, running 34 times for 218 yards and a score.
Here are the best and worst players from the Jets’ latest loss.
Stud: WR Jamison Crowder
After dropping a wide-open touchdown pass, Jamison Crowder made a tougher catch to connect with Sam Darnold for his third touchdown reception of the season.
With Demaryius Thomas sidelined and Ryan Griffin placed on injured reserve, Crowder immediately filled the role of Darnold’s go-to receiver as he has numerous times this season.
Crowder caught six passes for 90 yards and two scores in losing fashion.
Dud: QB Sam Darnold
While it’s apparent each and every week that Sam Darnold isn’t getting enough help around him, the Jets quarterback hasn’t done a whole lot to help himself.
Darnold was responsible for the Jets’ inability to finish in the first half. New York let two possessions end in the red zone without putting points on the board. With less than 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Darnold was intercepted by Chuck Clark on a horrid pass intended for Daniel Brown.
The Jets couldn’t finish and their offense made no second-half adjustments. Darnold isn’t totally at fault for the struggles, but he isn’t blameless either. Since winning three straight, his progression has gone somewhat backward and the Jets are 1-2 in those games.
Dud: S Marcus Maye
Granted Marcus Maye has had to switch safety positions to replace Jamal Adams who is out with an ankle injury, but he has left a lot to be desired at the safety position.
Maye has consistently struggled in coverage, while Darryl Roberts is laying down the hammer over the middle. Lamar Jackson beat Maye in coverage with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts.
Jackson completed 15 of 23 passes for 215 yards and threw for five touchdowns. Between Roberts and the Ravens two tight ends, they combined for eight catches for 137 yards and two scores.
Stud: LB James Burgess
James Burgess was making a lot of plays in the middle of the field for the Jets on Thursday night.
On mutiple occasions, Burgess made third-down stops to get the Ravens offense off the field. He batted down a pass from Lamar Jackson at the line of scrimmage and stuffed running back Gus Edwards behind the line.
Burgess has done an excellent job filling in for the losses at inside linebacker after shining in training camp with Gang Green. He has had helped fill a void at linebacker due to injuries to C.J. Mosley, Avery Williamson, Blake Cashman and Albert McClellan.
Stud: Special Teams
In a lost season, Brant Boyer consistently has his unit playing spectacular football, minus Sam Ficken.
The Jets were excellent in the return game on Thursday night between Ty Montgomery, Vyncint Smith and Braxton Berrios. Not to mention, that the Special Teams unit added a touchdown with Tarrell Basham’s blocked punt returned for a touchdown by B.J. Bello.
Dud: K Sam Ficken
The Jets officially have a kicking problem again.’
Sam Ficken had a 49-yard field goal blocked on the Jets’ second offensive drive and then missed an extra point after New York’s punt block return touchdown.
Ficken has now missed extra points in consecutive weeks and the Jets may be in the market for a new kicker.
