Jets' offensive line not much help to Joe Flacco vs. Bengals
Jets quarterback Joe Flacco (19) runs away from Cincinnati Bengals defenders during the second half in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. Credit: Noah K. Murray
Quarterback controversy?
There will be no quarterback controversy. And even if there were one, it would be the least of the Jets’ problems.
Over the course of 60 minutes in their 27-12 loss to the Bengals on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the play of the Jets’ offensive line revealed itself to be a significant problem. That could render the possible return of Zach Wilson next Sunday in Pittsburgh relatively meaningless if a reasonable solution is not found.
“We have to be better,” rookie right tackle Max Mitchell said. “Offensive line, we have to pick up the team here. Really, give Joe [Flacco] time. We can’t allow these strip sacks, quick throws, quick hurries, things like that. We’re definitely better than what we put on tape today.”
However, there will be precious little, if anything, that will be on the tape that can be viewed in a positive light.
Against the reigning AFC champions, the Jets (1-2) were limited to four field goals by Greg Zuerlein (50, 40, 52, 43) because they not only could not finish drives but struggled to sustain them. Their longest drive of the game occurred in the third quarter, a 12-play, 55-yard march that ended with Zuerlein’s fourth field goal.
The decision to kick the field goal was met with boos from fans inside MetLife Stadium. It didn’t leave the Jets feeling particularly great either.
“Any time you get the ball down in the red zone and you don’t come away with points or you have to settle for three or any of those kind of things, it’s frustrating,” Flacco said. “I think a lot of times when you look at those kind of things — three points versus seven points — it makes a difference in the football game.”
The Jets finished with 328 yards of total offense, an average of 4.3 yards per play. They accumulated 19 first downs (13 passing, four rushing and two through penalties) and had 27:36 in time of possession.
One week after recording 93 rushing yards on 20 carries in the pulsating win in Cleveland, the Jets were limited to 76 yards on 20 carries. Breece Hall (eight carries) and Michael Carter (11 carries) each ran for 39 yards and receiver Braxton Berrios lost 2 yards on his only carry.
As a result, the Jets became one-dimensional.
Flacco finished with 285 yards on 28-for-52 passing. He was picked off twice and fumbled three times (losing two).
His most significant turnover occurred with 10:09 remaining in the fourth quarter. With the Jets trailing 27-12 and facing a fourth-and-6 at the Cincinnati 14, their last best chance to get back in the game ended when Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and defensive tackle B.J. Hill converged on Flacco, who fumbled.
Hendrickson, who began the sequence by blowing past left tackle Conor McDermott (the replacement for starter George Fant, who was lost for the game with a knee injury in the third quarter), recovered the loose ball.
The sack was the fourth of the game allowed by the Jets.
“They are good players that made some plays. Good edge rushers,” said Mitchell, who added that the Bengals “started blitzing us pretty [heavily].”
Immediately after the strip sack, the Bengals went on a 13-play, 57-yard drive spanning 7:48 to put the game away. The march ended with Evan McPherson missing a 41-yard field goal that would have pushed the lead to 18, but that was irrelevant as the Jets got the ball back with 2:15 left and no timeouts remaining.
