The Jets left New England with the same problem that’s been hanging over them all season: flashes of life, but not enough of the full package to beat a quality opponent. New York dropped a 26-19 decision to the Patriots on Sunday, a game that turned early when the Jets fell into a 17-2 hole by halftime and never quite dug out.
There were bright spots tucked inside the loss. Geno Smith played a steady game at quarterback, avoiding major mistakes and throwing the ball efficiently even with Garrett Wilson drawing the Patriots’ attention.
Rookie wideout Omar Cooper Jr. made an immediate impact in his return from a high ankle sprain, going for more than 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. But on the other side of the ball, New England had too much success moving the chains.
Drake Maye threw for three touchdowns without an interception or sack, and the Patriots’ run game stayed efficient at more than 4.0 yards per carry.
Here’s how the stock report shakes out after the Jets fell to 2-4:
Stock Up: RB Braelon Allen
With Breece Hall sidelined again because of a quadriceps injury, Allen had to carry the load on the ground, and he handled it with a physical edge. He kept churning after first contact and brought value as a pass-catching outlet for Smith, giving the offense a needed safety valve.
Stock Down: TE Kenyon Sadiq
This was another quiet outing for the rookie tight end, and it fits the recent pattern of his role shrinking as offensive coordinator Frank Reich searches for the right mix to keep drives alive. Sadiq isn’t far removed from a 7-catch, 105-yard performance that showed what he can be, but right now he’s been one of the offense’s more uneven pieces.
Stock Up: LB Jamien Sherwood
Sherwood did what he could to make life harder for Maye and the Patriots. He remained active as one of the Jets’ better tacklers and also made his presence felt as a pass rusher, getting pressure on Maye on some of his dropbacks.
Stock Down: CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
Brownlee’s versatility has been one of the reasons the Jets brought him in, but this wasn’t one of those games where he stood out. Against a Patriots offense that kept the pressure on, his impact just wasn’t there enough.
Stock Up: QB Geno Smith
Smith didn’t have Wilson taking over the game, but he kept the offense on schedule and spread the ball around well. He stayed composed, avoided unnecessary sacks, and kept finding open throws even as New England tried to take away his top target.
Stock Up: WR Omar Cooper Jr.
Cooper looked ready from the start in his first game back after the high ankle sprain he suffered in the opener. He separated repeatedly, made plays while Smith extended them outside the pocket, and showed the kind of downfield threat the Jets want more of in their passing game.
In Other News...
Jets Offense Has One Obvious Problem After Patriots Loss
The Jets offense spent another Sunday looking constrained in the 26-19 loss to New England, and the missing element was easy to spot. Without Adonai Mitchell stretching the field, the passing game has lacked the kind of vertical threat that can force defenses to back off, leaving offensive coordinator Frank Reich to work with a narrower menu of options than he probably wanted in Week 6.
Mitchells absence has now become a real part of the conversation around why the unit has been less effective lately, because his speed and downfield presence were supposed to open things up for everyone else. Until he gets back into the lineup, the Jets are left trying to manufacture explosive plays without the receiver who most naturally changes the geometry of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Braelon Allen Just Put Jets Coaches Under A Harsh Spotlight
After the loss to the Patriots, Braelon Allen did not sound interested in softening the message around the Jets offense. The second-year running back said the group needs to stop playing against itself, a blunt assessment after a game in which he was one of the few bright spots. Allen finished with 104 total yards on 19 touches, including work both as a runner and a receiver, while rookie Omar Cooper Jr. posted his first 100-yard game.
For a team that has stumbled to a 2-4 start, comments like that only sharpen the attention on Aaron Glenn and Frank Reich. The Jets have spent much of the early season trying to find offensive rhythm and consistency, and Allens frustration underscored how uneven it still looks when the pressure ramps up. If the offense is already being called out from inside the locker room, the coaching staff is staring at a problem that goes well beyond one loss. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Could Not Afford Garrett Wilson's Quietest Role Yet
Garrett Wilson was on the field, but for much of Sunday night he was not much of a factor in the Jets offense. In a 26-19 loss to the Patriots, the wide receiver finished with four catches for 44 yards on six targets, a quiet showing for one of the teams most important playmakers.
What stood out even more was how little Wilson was involved early, when the game was still there to be won. Afterward, he addressed his limited role, a familiar frustration for a Jets offense that could not afford to leave one of its top weapons on the margins for long. [Read more 🡒]