Jets Week 14 Game Ball: Andre Roberts

The Jets won yesterday, which means we get the rare treat of awarding a game ball.

We try to avoid giving the game ball to the quarterback aside from exceptional cases. I understand it if you think it should go to Sam Darnold with the idea his first fourth quarter comeback and first game-winning drive qualify as an exceptional case.

When in doubt, I go with somebody other than the quarterback. I think return man Andre Roberts’ performance provides enough doubt to go with him.

It was not a clean day for Roberts. His fumble of the second half kickoff essentially gifted the Bills a field goal at the start of the third quarter. But his first half play kept the Jets within striking distance and might have even prevented the team from being blown out early.

With the Jets trailing 14-3 in the first half, Roberts ripped off a 51 yard kickoff return to the Buffalo 46 yard line. The Jets converted the short field into a field goal. After Buffalo answered with a field goal to take a 17-6 lead, Roberts then returned the kickoff 86 yards to the Buffalo 8, setting up a Trenton Cannon touchdown to pull the Jets within 4.

It was overshadowed by the heroics of Darnold, but I’m not sure the Jets win this game without Roberts’ early work so he gets my game ball.