Jets Edge Falcons in Dramatic Finish Behind Tyrod Taylor’s Late Heroics
For most of Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, it felt like the Jets and Falcons were destined for overtime. But in the final seconds, it was the Jets who found just enough to tilt the scales in their favor - and it all came down to a veteran quarterback, a rookie receiver, and a kicker with ice in his veins.
With under two minutes left in regulation and the Jets trailing by seven, Tyrod Taylor took matters into his own hands - literally. The Jets’ quarterback scrambled into the end zone from short range to tie the game at 24-24 with 1:53 left on the clock. From there, it was a battle of field position and clock management, and the Jets executed just well enough to give Nick Folk a shot at glory.
After both teams exchanged punts, the Jets regained possession at their own 43-yard line with 35 seconds to play. Taylor wasted no time, taking off for a 14-yard run before hitting rookie wideout Adonai Mitchell on back-to-back completions for a combined 15 yards. That put the Jets within striking distance, but a false start penalty nearly derailed the drive, pushing them back five yards and setting up a daunting 56-yard field goal attempt.
Folk stepped up and delivered. His kick had just enough leg to clear the uprights, sealing a 27-24 win for the Jets - their third of the season, and notably, their first since turning the offense over to Taylor. The victory also snapped a frustrating 10-game losing streak in games where the Jets scored first.
Taylor wasn’t perfect, but he was poised and productive. He finished 19-of-33 for 172 yards through the air and added 44 yards on eight carries.
His biggest moment came in the first half when he connected with Mitchell for a 52-yard touchdown strike - the first career touchdown for the Jets’ second-round pick out of Texas. Mitchell had a breakout day, hauling in eight receptions for 102 yards and showing flashes of the dynamic playmaker the Jets hoped they were getting on draft day.
On the other side, the Falcons leaned heavily on Bijan Robinson, and the second-year back delivered in a big way. Robinson ran 23 times for 142 yards and caught five passes for another 51.
He found the end zone once and was a constant problem for the Jets’ defense. Atlanta looked to be in control midway through the fourth quarter after Kirk Cousins found David Sills on a nine-yard screen for a touchdown that put the Falcons up 24-17 with just under nine minutes to play.
But that was the last real spark from the Atlanta offense. The Falcons managed just one yard on their final two possessions, and their defense couldn’t get off the field when it mattered most. The Jets held the ball for nearly seven minutes leading up to Taylor’s game-tying score, grinding down both the clock and the Falcons’ momentum.
For Atlanta, now sitting at 4-8, this loss likely puts any postseason hopes on life support. They’ll return home to host the Seahawks in Week 14.
As for the Jets, now 3-9, the win doesn’t change their place in the standings, but it does offer a spark of optimism. Taylor’s leadership, Mitchell’s emergence, and a clutch kick from a veteran leg gave this team - and its fans - something to celebrate. Next up: a divisional clash with the Dolphins, back at MetLife.