If you've watched this team for as long as I have, you really should not be surprised at what happened yesterday in the Meadowlands. The Gang Green dominated their opponent, the Miami Dolphins, for almost the entire game, limited them to just 104 yards of total offense and still found a way to lose the game! Yes, those were the Same Old Jets that we got so used to seeing over all these painful years of amazing wins and shocking heartbreaking defeats. There was one thing though that we hadn't seen until yesterday - two back to back kickoff returns for touchdowns!
CB Ahmad Carroll, one of the best special team players on the team, was inactive for this game and replaced by recently converted to wide receiver Danny Woodhead. The Jets obviously thought that they were thin at running back and receiver, which prompted them to activate Woodhead. As a result, Woodhead, who did not see any action on offense, was caught out of position on at least one of the costly kickoff returns.
Despite giving up two touchdowns on special teams and one more on offense when Miami scored on a lost fumble by RB Shonn Greene, the Gang Green still had a chance to win this game. However, costly penalties and questionable decisions by the coaching staff only added to the agony of defeat. First, Rex Ryan decided not to challenge a pretty obvious fumble by Miami on their own touchdown drive of the game. Then, facing a 2nd and 10 on their own 10-yard line, the Jets were penalized for having 12 men on the field. The Dolphins scored on the ensuing play extending their lead to 11 points with less than nine minutes remaining in the final quarter.
The bad:
1). Special teams allowed 2 touchdowns on kickoff returns - 100 and 101 yards.
2). Coaching staff made quite a few questionable decisions. They did not challenge the obvious fumble and then decided to call three straight passing plays at the end of the game when the Jets had a 2nd and 7 on Miami's 9-yard line.
3). RB Shonn Greene averaged only 2.3 yards per carry and lost a fumble.
4). OG Alan Faneca looked very bad against Miami's defensive line.
The good:
1). Defense limited Miami to just 104 total yards, registered 6.0 sacks and 7 tackles for loss.
2). All receivers played well. TE Dustin Keller caught 8 of 13 passes thrown to him for 76 yards, 1 TD. WR Braylon Edwards caught 4 of 8 for 74 yards, 1 TD. WR Jerricho Cotchery caught 3 of 8 for 70 yards.
3). DE Shaun Ellis led the team with 1.5 sacks, 5 tackles (3 solo) and 2 quarterback hits.
4). RB Thomas Jones ran for over 100 yards for the third game in a row. He gained 102 yards on 27 carries.
QB Mark Sanchez had a terrible first half, but then rebounded in the second. He finished 20 of 35 for 265 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, and also added a rushing touchdown.