Jets Q&A: What was the deal with C.J. Mosley's offsides penalty?
Bills quarterback Josh Allen advances toward the end zone for a touchdown as Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley, right, tries to defend during the second half of an NFL game Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y. Credit: AP/Adrian Kraus
What happened when C.J. Mosley leaped over the offensive line and tackled tight end Dawson Knox?
On fourth-and-1, Knox lined up behind center while Josh Allen stood in the back. The Jets already had been beaten on a play like that this season, and Mosley thought it was going to be a direct snap to Knox. Buffalo was trying to draw the Jets offsides, and it worked.
“I tried to make a play, honestly,” Mosley said. “This year for some reason around the league, when they don’t do the quarterback sneak, they motion a tight end or motion a receiver and sneak it in. I saw the play. I tried to do my inner Troy Polamalu. It just didn’t work this time.”
Robert Saleh said it was “a good pre-snap design” and that the Bills probably weren’t even going to snap it.
Mosley usually is good at reading those plays. He said Knox might have even done a hard count, but he was focused on the alignment. It proved costly as Buffalo scored its first touchdown on that drive.
“I’m trying to make a play,” Mosley said. “I can’t stop, so I’m like a fish at that point. Sometimes you got to take the L.”
How is Quinnen Williams?
More will be known Monday when he gets re-evaluated, but the Jets hope they dodged a bullet with their dominant defensive lineman. He left the game in the first half after suffering a non-contact calf injury. Saleh said it wasn’t Williams’ Achilles and that he might be able play Sunday.
“What I got right now is day-to-day from the trainers,” Saleh said. “They feel that he’s got a chance to make it this week.”
With the Jets down by 11, did Saleh consider going for the touchdown on fourth-and-1 at the 9 instead of a field goal?
Yes. He said there “was a discussion” but they believed their defense would give the offense the ball back. They did, but the Jets went four-and-out.
“We had a timeout and [46] seconds to go [79 yards] down the field,” Saleh said. “I could replay that in my mind and go for it. At the end of the day, we had the ball with a chance to at least tie. I could probably go back and forth on that.”
Williams recorded two sacks, giving him 11. When was the last time a Jet had double-digit sacks?
Muhammad Wilkerson had 12 sacks in 2015.
How good is Garrett Wilson?
He had another impressive game and broke Keyshawn Johnson’s rookie receiving record. Wilson had six catches for 78 yards, giving him 868. Johnson held the rookie receiving record with 844 yards in 1996.
“It means a lot,” Wilson said. “It would mean a whole lot more if we won this game. I can’t lie to you, I was expecting to get that. But it’s about winning. It’s about winning. I want to win.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
