Nick Folk hit a game-winning 33-yard field goal in overtime to give the New York Jets (2-1) a very fortunate 23–20 win at Miami (1-2) in one of the uglier games in recent history. The game-winner came less than two minutes after Miami’s Dan Carpenter missed a 48-yard potential game-winner of his own.
“Clearly it was a great team effort. And did we get breaks? We certainly got some breaks, no question about it,” said a clearly relieved Rex Ryan afterward, according to a report on the team’s website.
How ugly was it? The two teams combined for 20 total penalties, and both starting quarterbacks missed more passes than they made while throwing more picks than touchdowns.
To top it off, each team lost its best player, with Darrelle Revis and Reggie Bush each leaving the game with leg injuries. Bush was injured at the end of a run, while Revis’s knee buckled on a non-contact play. Neither player returned.
For the Jets, the struggles in the passing game were a continuation of last week’s loss in Pittsburgh, where after a hot start, Mark Sanchez proceeded to miss on 16 of his final 22 attempts.
This time, Sanchez completed 21 of 45 throws to go along with a pair of interceptions and a touchdown, though he gained a respectable 306 yards through the air in the extended contest.
There was plenty of blame to go around for the passing problems, though, as the team is without one of Sanchez’s favorite targets in tight end Dustin Keller—out with a hamstring injury. Even if had had Keller as a target, Sanchez was rarely allowed to set and throw in his ever-collapsing pocket.
Making matters worse, rookie starting wideout Stephen Hill was unable to get much separation in coverage and ended up with no catches for the second straight game, despite being targeted seven times—second-most on the team.
Compounding matters was a ground-and-pound running game that lacked much bite. Starting running back Shonn Greene gained just 40 yards on 19 carries—an average of 2.1 per carry—as there were few holes to be found between the tackles.
Santonio Holmes was one bright spot for the team, hauling in nine catches for 147 yards (both game-highs), including a game-breaking 38-yarder down the sideline in overtime that set up Folk’s game-winner three plays later.
This came just after Dan Carpenter’s miss—his second on the day. Kicking was just one of Miami’s problems, though.
Dolphins rookie starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill hit just 16 of 36 passes for 196 yards and an interception that nearly turned the game around. Tannehill’s pick came on the second play from scrimmage after halftime and was returned 18 yards for a touchdown by strong safety LaRon Landry to tie the game at 10.
The Dolphins would turn the ball over the very next play from scrimmage—on a fumble by Daniel Thomas at Miami’s own 26-yard line. Three plays later, though, Mark Sanchez was intercepted in the end zone on a third and goal at the seven, and the score stayed even.
The Jets’ next contest is a Sept. 30 home game against San Francisco.
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