The Jets’ latest loss came with more than just another mark in the standings. In Sunday’s 28-25 defeat to the Dolphins at MetLife Stadium, cameras caught Garrett Wilson and Geno Smith in a heated sideline exchange late in the fourth quarter, a tense moment that summed up how quickly things were unraveling for New York.
Miami jumped on the Jets early and never really let go. The Dolphins scored twice in the first quarter to open a 14-7 lead, then tacked on another touchdown before halftime to push it to 21-7.
Malik Willis handled the offense efficiently, going 14 of 21 for 208 yards with two passing touchdowns and adding a rushing score. Ollie Gordon II supplied the ground punch, running for 103 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
New York had chances to claw back, but the red-zone trip that led to the sideline blowup said plenty about the afternoon. With just under nine minutes left and the Jets down 21-17, they drove inside Miami’s five-yard line and came away with only a field goal after being stopped three times at the goal line. Right after that sequence, Wilson was shown laying into Smith on the bench area, while the quarterback did not respond.
Smith’s day had some real production attached to it - 23 completions on 30 attempts for 287 yards and three touchdowns - but the interception he threw in the second quarter also helped stall another drive. It was his second straight week with a pick, and the Jets lost both games.
Wilson had a quiet night by his standards, finishing with two catches for 26 yards and no touchdowns. That was his lowest receiving total of the season and his second game below 30 receiving yards.
The defeat left the Jets at 2-5, with their AFC East climb looking even steeper. The Bills are sitting first in the division at 5-1, the Patriots are right behind at 4-3, and New York is now only a game ahead of Miami, which also owns the head-to-head edge.
The schedule doesn’t do the Jets any favors either. Next comes a home game against the Raiders, followed by trips to Kansas City to face the Chiefs and then a meeting with the Bills at MetLife Stadium.
In Other News...
Jets Still Have A Breece Hall Problem They Can't Solve
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For a Jets offense that has already had to adjust on the fly, the bigger concern is how long it may take before Hall is truly ready to go. The current signs point to a return in Week 8 as the more realistic target, giving New York another round of uncertainty in the backfield while it waits for clearer momentum from a player it badly needs back in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Wilson Sideline Tension Revives A Bigger Jets Problem
After the Jets loss to the Dolphins, a sideline exchange between Garrett Wilson and Geno Smith drew attention because it reflected a familiar problem for a passing game that still struggles to find its rhythm. Wilsons frustration appeared to stem from how little he was involved, and the moment landed as part of a larger concern for a team trying to build consistency on offense.
Aaron Glenn addressed the issue after the game, acknowledging the team did not do enough to get Wilson involved. Later reports suggested Wilson and Smith talked it through in a calm way, with the receiver framing the irritation as part of the groups overall performance rather than a personal rift. Even so, the clip was a reminder that the Jets biggest questions on offense are still hovering just beneath the surface. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Finally Get Adonai Mitchell Back With One Strange Mystery Lingering
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Mitchell spoke with reporters this week but kept the details of the injury close to the vest, offering little beyond the fact that it sidelined him for a month. Even with the immediate concern now focused on getting him back on the field, there is still a small mystery hanging around how it all happened and what the next steps might have been. [Read more 🡒]