FanPost

Big Plays Matter

In a game like the Jets played yesterday, there are certain plays that if they don’t get made, you're just that one step closer to simply being the Same Old Jets. For a change, yesterday the Jets won those plays, four in particular that get lost in the madness that was the frenetic closing sequence leading to the Jets win.

One, the fake punt and pass for a first down. Jets started the game weakly after receiving the kickoff (three and out, incomplete to Conklin on third down, although he looked in on the replay). Consequently, and on the Browns first possession of the game, Cleveland threw the kitchen sink at our aggressive defense, passing long, passing short, passing left, passing right. Running right running left, screens, lead draws, traps and counters, 14 plays ninety yards, nine physical minutes ending with Nick Chubb taking it in from four yards out. Nasty drive. After the kickoff, Flacco converted a third down with a seven yard scramble, but the drive stalled and the Jets lined up to punt. But on fourth and 2, Mann pulled up and hit Jeff Smith on a fake punt. First down Jets. Breece Hall then went for 23 yards off the left side, weaving, bobbing, ducking, then acceleratin’. And two plays later Flacco found Wilson, who smoked the single coverage at the line with a juke move that left the Browns defender literally picking his jock strap up off the field. 7-7, its a ball game. But not if Mann doesnt complete that pass first...

Two.14:19, fourth quarter, down again, 17-14. Zuerlein, who missed two kicks last week, lines up for a 57 yard field goal. Outdoors and on grass? Nails it to tie the game. In a contest where sixty one points were scored, every point counted. Including three on a ball travelling damn near sideways in the air and from a distance where the make percentage, depending on your metric, is about seven percent. You do the math.

Three.7:37 to go in the game, Browns up 24-17, Kareem Hunt, fresh as a daisy and smelling like a rose, shreds right, twice, for 25 huge fourth quarter yards, down to the Jets 34. Then Kwan Alexander catches him going left for a loss, minus five. Then Chubb left? Another loss, minus three (Moseley). Then Lawson (and Q) make a game saving play, as they break through to bring Brissett down on third down for the sack, minus eight, Browns punt. Cleveland would eventually score again in the insanity of the closing sequence, but the important thing is that the Jet defense held, in a big spot in the closing minutes. Three straight plays when the Browns had to have it, they went backwards, backwards, backwards....

And four. After receiving the ensuing punt, Jets were pinned at their own eight yard line. On second and 11, Conklin caught a four yard pass, and fumbled. Max Mitchell beat two players to the loose ball and covered it. If he hadnt, the Browns would have been in the kill zone and in a position to first score, then simply kill off remaining clock with their next possession. They still got it back and scored on a drive which only took 35 seconds, (aided by 15 yards for unnecessary roughness on the Jet punt). But I think thw Mitchell recovery actually wound up saving the Jets time. Time that they eventually wound up using to close the game out....

Big plays that got missed in all the excitement. But without any one of which, I dont think the Jets win that game yesterday. Some days you eat the bear. And some days, the bear eats you....


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