Geno Smith let it rip against the Raiders, and the Jets’ passing game looked nothing like a conservative outfit on Sunday afternoon.
Smith, now in his fifth year and second stint with New York after entering the NFL in 2013, gave the Jets the kind of veteran stability they’ve leaned on from him. Against Las Vegas, he went 20-for-32 for 290 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, pushing the ball downfield at a rare clip. His average depth of target came in at 15.58 yards per pass, a number that stood out across the league this season, according to reporter Lindsay Rhodes.
“The Jets Average Depth of Target (15.58 yds) vs. LV was the highest for a team so far this season.
Previous highs: CJ Stroud (Wk 4) & JJ McCarthy (Wk 6)- 14.8. *Jets ADOT Wk 1-7: 6.79 (4th lowest in the NFL),” Rhodes wrote.
New York had plenty to like early, building a 23-14 halftime edge, but the finish belonged to Las Vegas. The Raiders outscored the Jets 14-7 over the final 30 minutes and escaped with a 38-33 win in Week 8.
Braelon Allen did his part to keep the Jets moving on the ground, piling up 147 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries while adding two catches for six yards. In the passing game, Adonai Mitchell was the big-play threat, leading all receivers with seven grabs for 142 yards and a touchdown. Garrett Wilson followed with six receptions for 83 yards, and Isaiah Williams added an 18-yard touchdown catch.
The Jets now turn the page to a road trip in Week 9, where they’ll face the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. ET.
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Allens stretch as the lead runner has given the Jets a real reason to think about how the workload should be divided once Hall is back in the mix. It has also reopened a bigger question around the trade deadline, with some wondering whether Hall could become a movable piece if the right deal comes along, even though the safer path still appears to be keeping one of the teams most dynamic offensive weapons unless the return is too good to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Need Their Offense To Wake Up Before Skid Gets Worse
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A big part of that starts with getting Garrett Wilson more involved after he was quiet in the loss to Miami, while also asking Geno Smith to clean up the ball security issues that have crept in over the last two weeks. The Jets also need Omar Cooper Jr. to keep providing the kind of spark he has given them recently, because if the offense stalls again, the pressure around this matchup only gets heavier. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Had One Immediate Question Watching Ashton Jeanty
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Jeanty finally got his first touch early in the second quarter, but the early split still invited plenty of second-guessing from the Jets side of the matchup. His recent struggles have already been part of the conversation, and his comments about the Jets' defense only added another layer to the intrigue, even if there was no clear explanation for the quiet start. [Read more 🡒]