Despite a new personal best in yards for Sam Darnold’s young career, the New York Jets blew several opportunities in a loss to Miami.
The New York Jets fell back to Earth on Sunday afternoon, falling 20-12 to the Miami Dolphins in East Rutherford on Sunday.
The game opened with three consecutive punts, before the Jets broke the trend in the scariest way possible, a Sam Darnold interception. TJ McDonald was 15 yards short of the goal line on the ensuing return, but they were able to fully punch it in three plays later, with Kenyan Drake the responsible party from six yards away.
? Le rookie Sam Darnold intercepté par TJ McDonald ! #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/QHQN7IBrCe
— NFL France (@FirstDownFR) September 16, 2018
¡Touchdown! Kenyan Drake anota en acarreo de 7 yardas. #FinsUp 7 – 0 #Jets #NFL pic.twitter.com/MD8YLrrbTz
— All Football (@AllFootballMX) September 16, 2018
The teams would continue to exchange punts until yet another Jets turnover led to Dolphins points. A fumble by Robby Anderson, forced by Kiko Alonso, sent the ball the other way, and the Dolphins took a two-touchdown lead with a 29-yard scoring hookup between Ryan Tannehill and Albert Wilson.
Albert Wilson always makes the first man miss pic.twitter.com/swsefSKob0
— Chris Wittyngham (@ChrisWittyngham) September 16, 2018
A Jets three-and-out that lost seven yards yielded Miami’s biggest lead of the afternoon, as an eight-play, 62-yard drive concluded with Tannehill earning his second touchdown, this one 19 yards and six more points, tight end AJ Derby being the lucky recipient.
TOUCHDOWN, AJ DERBY!!
?: @CBSMiami#MIAvsNYJ | #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/focbGnNukY
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 16, 2018
The Jets had a chance to get some points before the half, driving 74 yards in just five plays, but an attempt to the middle of the field with no timeouts fell just short, as tight end Chris Herndon was stopped one yard away.
The second half did open with Jets scoring, as Darnold would hookup with Bilal Powell from 28 yards out, his first touchdown pass at MetLife Stadium.
Bilal Powell is so good. #Jets pic.twitter.com/CRw1iol5G8
— Matt O'Leary (@MattOLearyNY) September 16, 2018
Unfortunately for the Jets, they were unable to generate further traction for the remainder of the game. Their ensuing points only came in the form of Jason Myers field goals, but opportunities were wasted by both the offense and the defense. A lost Tannehill fumble set the Jets up in the Miami red zone, but a Darnold pass intended for Terrelle Pryor was intercepted by Xavien Howard.
❌❌❌@Iamxavienhoward PICKS OFF Darnold
?: @CBSMiami#MIAvsNYJ | #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/eDDktvg1eI
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 16, 2018
After Myers’ second field goal, Tannehill was able to eat the final six minutes of the game with a 12-play, 58 yard drive that killed the Jets timeouts, and their will, creating the 20-12 win.
Despite the two interceptions, Darnold set a new career-high with 334 yards. The Jets defense forced four sacks.
The Jets will have a quick turnaround, their next game being on Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns on the road on Thursday (8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network).