The New York Jets’ primary offense needed some time to get going but ended the night on the right note in a 28-13 loss.
Drew Brees completed 4-of-6 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown as the New Orleans Saints earned a 25-13 preseason victory over the New York Jets on Saturday night at MetLife Stadium.
Despite the third preseason game’s reputation as a de facto “dress rehearsal”, New Orleans’ marquee names only played the first offensive series before departing. They made the most of their limited time.
Brees led them on an eight-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass. Michael Thomas’ 19-yard tally was the last of four successful Brees passes. He also earned respective tallies of 20 and 25 yards to Thomas and Alvin Kamara to set up the six points.
That Brees to Kamara connection already in mid-season form ?@Saints @drewbrees @A_kamara6#NOvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/PfjV4ay3g0
— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2019
Drew Brees to Michael Thomas, just like old times, TD. #Saints @FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/6ug5Ha6SlA
— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) August 24, 2019
New Orleans would go up 10-0 via a Wil Lutz field goal from 39 yards out. A Ty Montgomery fumble situated them deep in Jets territory.
The Jets’ starting offense wound up staying out for five drives. They struggled to move the ball for a majority of the night but broke through during their last appearance.
A seven-play, 65-yard trek ended with Sam Darnold finding Montgomery for a redeeming two-yard touchdown pass. Darnold previously set things up with a 41-yard hook-up between him and Robby Anderson, the quarterback’s longest play of the night.
Good looking pass from Darnold to the Sun God, Robby Anderson #Jets pic.twitter.com/VVW8XeGMmJ
— Conor Sheeran (@TheNJMick) August 25, 2019
Darnold goes up and over for this first TD of the evening to Ty Montgomery. ?@nyjets @_WiFi_Ty_#NOvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/GpKtjM4vQq
— NFL (@NFL) August 25, 2019
Special teams mostly dominated the evening from there on out. Boots from the New York side were particularly interesting, as Taylor Bertolet made his best case yet for the Jets’ kicker slot. Successful kicks from 48 and 56 yards helped the Jets (1-2) tie the game from deep.
Right down the middle ?@TaylorBertolet | #NOvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/zh90M35ECJ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 25, 2019
New Orleans (2-1) created their victory through two more Lutz field goals (from 40 and 38 yards) and a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown by Deonte Harris. The Saints would also earn late points in the fourth quarter via a holding penalty in the end zone and one more Lutz field goal, this one from 34 yards out.
Deonte Harris pick-up the phone, you have a house call! ?@Saints#NOvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/lPuSB45tAS
— NFL (@NFL) August 25, 2019
Several Jets veterans have the MetLife faithful a show before exchanging their helmets for baseball caps. Jamal Adams laid down a big hit on Saints rusher Dwayne Washington in the first quarter that brought the stadium to its feet. Trenton Cannon also made his case in battle for reserve running backs, tallying 52 yards on five carries.
HEAT-SEEKING MISSILE.@TheAdamsEra | #NOvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/SuEYshPB34
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 25, 2019
There goes @cannnon25 ???#NOvsNYJ | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/tVlRDo0cc9
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 25, 2019
The Jets will conclude their preseason quartet on Thursday at home against the Philadelphia Eagles (7:00 p.m. ET, WCBS).
