Jets Special Teams Deliver When It Matters Most in Thrilling Win
As the dust settles on this week’s nail-biter, it’s time to give the Jets’ special teams their due. In a game where every inch mattered, this unit showed up in a big way-flipping field position, converting under pressure, and delivering game-changing plays that helped seal the win. Let’s break it down.
Kicking Game - Folk Comes Through in the Clutch
Nick Folk’s day had a little bit of everything-missed opportunity, redemption, and ultimately, hero status. His first miss of the season came on a 55-yard attempt that fell just short, but any lingering frustration vanished when he drilled a 56-yarder as time expired to win the game.
That kick wasn’t just long-it was a line drive with just enough juice to clear the bar. Clutch doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Folk also nailed a shorter field goal earlier and went 3-for-3 on extra points, including a pressure-packed attempt that tied the game with under two minutes left. He stayed calm, stayed true, and delivered when it mattered most.
Austin McNamara deserves his flowers, too. The rookie punter was rock-solid all afternoon, none more so than when he launched a 55-yard missile from his own goal line in a tie game late in the fourth.
A miscue there, and the Falcons are setting up for a game-winner of their own. Instead, McNamara flipped the field-and the momentum.
Out of his six punts, four went for 50+ yards. The two shorter ones?
Both executed to perfection-one downed at the 10, another muffed at the 7. He also dropped a 55-yarder at the 5.
That’s elite-level placement and power, and it added up to a sparkling 49.5-yard net average.
His kickoffs were solid, too. Three of five were fielded inside the five-yard line, and none made it past the 30. That’s how you control field position.
And let’s not overlook Will McDonald, who brought heat off the edge on Zane Gonzalez’s missed field goal. That pressure mattered.
Return Game - Isaiah Williams Sparks Momentum
The Falcons clearly wanted no part of Kene Nwangwu in the return game, opting for four touchbacks on kickoffs. But kicking to Isaiah Williams instead? That turned out to be a costly decision.
Williams ripped off an 83-yard kickoff return that set up a key field goal, flashing impressive speed and vision. He might’ve run out of gas near the end, getting tackled at the 12, but the damage was already done. Big-time blocks from Andrew Beck and Dean Clark helped spring him loose.
And Williams wasn’t done. He added a 16-yard punt return late that helped set up the game-winning field goal. That return was all about field awareness and timing, but it doesn’t happen without Qwan'tez Stiggers, who absolutely locked down the gunner to give Williams room to operate.
Williams also played it smart the rest of the day-taking a fair catch when needed and letting four punts go dead or out of bounds. Rookie Jordan Clark had a tougher debut, getting beaten downfield twice by the gunner, but overall, the return game was a net positive-and then some.
Coverage Units - Stiggers Sets the Tone
Qwan'tez Stiggers wasn’t just a factor in the return game-he was a one-man wrecking crew on coverage. With Arian Smith inactive, Stiggers stepped into a bigger role and delivered.
He was the first man downfield on nearly every punt, downed three, made two tackles, and recovered a muffed punt that set up the Jets’ first touchdown. That’s a game within a game, and Stiggers owned it.
Nwangwu, working as the other gunner, made his presence felt too. He was the first man down on the muffed punt and delivered a big hit on another.
The Falcons? They finished with minus-one punt return yards on six attempts.
That’s not a typo.
Kickoff coverage was just as tight. None of the Falcons’ returns made it past the 30, and Mykal Walker laid the wood with a big hit. Beck and Isaiah Oliver each chipped in with two tackles, showing the kind of depth and discipline that makes a difference in close games.
Bottom Line
In a game decided by the smallest of margins, the Jets’ special teams were anything but an afterthought-they were the difference. From Folk’s redemption arc to Williams’ electric return to Stiggers’ all-around impact, this unit came up big in every phase. That’s the kind of performance that doesn’t just win games-it builds confidence for the stretch run.