Jets grades vs. Titans: Offense, defense still have room for improvement
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) scores a touchdown against Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) in the first half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. Credit: AP/George Walker IV
OFFENSE: C+
Even the Jets themselves feel like they haven’t quite gotten into sync when they have the football, but having Aaron Rodgers in charge certainly helps quell any uneasiness regarding that. Rodgers threw for only 176 yards but had two TD passes and was 5-for-5 on the game-winning drive. The Jets may have found a complement for Breece Hall in Braelon Allen who had two scores and played several snaps with both running backs on the field. Hall, though, remains the centerpiece leading the team in carries (14 for 62 yards) and receptions (7 for 52).
DEFENSE: C
The four goal-to-go stops in the final minute sealed the win but two takeaways earlier in the game, including a great interception by Brandin Echols starting in place of injured D.J. Reed, were just as impactful. Will McDonald IV had a breakout game with three sacks, although one of them he admitted was just happenstance as Will Levis tried to leap over him before tossing the live ball backward for a fumble recovered by Quincy Williams. Sauce Gardner allowed some uncharacteristic big plays that are a bit alarming, as too were several long quarterback scrambles.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Irvin Charles made such an impact with a blocked punt and two key tackles for losses in punt coverage that Robert Saleh was pumping him up as a Pro Bowl and All-Pro candidate afterward. He came through unblocked to smother the punt in the third quarter that set up Greg Zuerlein’s 33-yard field goal and gave the Jets a 17-10 lead. Xavier Gipson had a nice 19-yard punt return among his three tries.
COACHING: C
The Jets may have gotten a little greedy at the end of the first half when the Titans seemed glad to run out the clock tied at 7 but Robert Saleh called a timeout and Tennessee then marched down the field for a field goal. Saleh did redeem himself in that discipline though by using his timeouts later in the game to avoid at least two delay-of-game flags on the offense. He said he knows he’ll have to stay on top of that all season with Rodgers’ proclivity for snapping the ball late. Penalties continue to plague the Jets (7 for 70 yards). This was Saleh’s first win of his career on a short week; he had been 0-6 and now has another one coming up on Thursday.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
