The result of this game was decided Wednesday, when Joe Flacco was named the starter. On Sunday, Flacco was fine, his years of experience helping him decipher Dolphins Coach Brian Flores’s man-to-man coverages and blitz packages.
The Jets’ best available option at quarterback could only produce 17 points against Miami’s defense, and yet, I feel better about the Jets after this loss than I have at any other point in the season because there are some fun players to watch, after all.
Receiver Elijah Moore torched Byron Jones and Xavien Howard, two defensive backs with strong reputations for taking away an opponent’s best receiver, for a touchdown.
Michael Carter looked like a serious running back, and his toughness will be valuable for this offense, when, or if, it gets good enough to play with a lead. Offensive guard Alijah Vera-Tucker was healthy enough to play again, and we know that the combination of Tucker and a healthy Mekhi Becton, who is out after knee surgery at the beginning of the season, will create running lanes for Carter when they’re finally able to take the field together.
Safety Ashtyn Davis picked off a pass from Tagovailoa, confirmation that the Jets’ defensive backs know they are more than traffic cones.
There’s hope that the Jets can be a trap game for the Houston Texans (2-8), who will be riding high after a surprise win over the Tennessee Titans (8-3).
Have my standards and expectations dropped so much that I’ve forced myself into finding silver linings?
Mind your own business.
Verdict: You’ll be trapped in the house with family for Thanksgiving weekend anyhow. Why not bond over some ineptitude?