Jets vs Cowboys: The good, the bad and the ugly

In the Jets vs Cowboys game, Gang Green improved to 9-5 Saturday night with a gut check win over America’s Team but it wasn’t perfect.

Dec 19, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker (87) celebrates with wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) after scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets didn’t get the dominant victory they were looking for Saturday night vs the Dallas Cowboys, but they got the win and kept their AFC playoff hopes alive. The Jets improved to 2-1 on prime time games this season under head coach Todd Bowles and they did a lot of positive things.

The Jets of old would have lost this game but with the type of leadership Bowles brings to the table, they earned this win by continuing to execute when it mattered most. Teams that can do that usually leave any game victorious even if it was an ugly win.

Let’s immediately turn our attention to the good, the bad and the ugly from the game.

Next: The Good

Dec 19, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Good

The Jets got their 9th win of the season, clinching their first winning season since 2010 under their first year head coach. The Jets, coming off of a three-game winning streak, has been one of the hottest teams in all of football, but they didn’t play that way in the first half. For much of the game the Jets just continued to leave the Cowboys in it and that nearly cost them a win.

Fortunately, there big time players made big time plays, just like when Ryan Fitzpatrick kept converting third down conversions to re-take the lead early in the 4th quarter. Or when Quincy Enunwa came out of nowhere to have his best game of the season, when the Jets needed him most. The good from this game can be seen from an individual perspective with the statistics from their main cogs.

Also the most obvious good is that the Jets also continued their winning streak to four games, another streak they hadn’t mustered since 2010. Now the Jets can sit back and relax and see how the games play out this weekend after their flight back. As it has been reported across the league, the Jets don’t control their own destiny. To make the post-season they’ll need the Kansas City Chiefs or the Pittsburgh Steelers to lose at least one game.

Next: The Bad

Dec 19, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Jets tight end Kellen Davis (47) cannot catch a ball while hit by Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Sean Lee (50) in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. New York won 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Bad

They committed too many penalties, had costly special teams mistakes, were outplayed on both lines and couldn’t stop a third-string quarterback in Kellen Moore from leading a game-tying field-goal drive late in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Jets committed 8 infractions for 61 yards well above their season averages. The special teams mistakes came via a missed PAT, a made field goal and one questionable illegal shift later led to three points being taken off the board before half-time.

The Jets’ running game was nonexistent, Chris Ivory ran for 37 yards with a 2.8 yards per clip while the most effective running back on the day seemed to be Bilal Powell again not only running the football, but catching it out the backfield.

Overall, the Jets finished with a measly 73 yards on the ground combined. While on the other side of the football, the Jets prideful #1 ranked rush defense got torched by Darren McFadden and company in uncharacteristic fashion giving up over 133 yards.

Next: The Ugly

Dec 19, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker (87) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Ugly

There were a few scary moments for Jets fans everywhere when Eric Decker went down in awkward fashion, Brandon Marshall went to the locker-room, and Kellen Davis went down with a nasty hit (Jets’ tight ends have been terrible all year so take that with a grain of salt). Fortunately everyone of prominence was able to return to the contest shortly after being pulled out.

The Jets have little margin for error and it was concerning to see a team that has been preaching fast-starts, to have the kind of first half of football that we saw on Saturday. Again, luckily or fortunately for the Jets, they were playing the inept Cowboys’ offense, they won’t be so lucky against a more formidable offense like the Patriots next Sunday who will take full advantage.

It was an ugly win but at the end of the day, a win is a win. The Jets have eliminated the Cowboys from the playoffs and are heading home confident looking forward to their final two games of the season.

Next: Final Thoughts

Dec 19, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Jets running back Chris Ivory (33) runs the ball against Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Sean Lee (50) in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. New York won 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Final Thoughts

The Jets’ defense played a bend, but don’t break style that worked to perfection with the defense notching four interceptions during the contest that included a Marcus Williams team leading 6th interception at the end to seal the victory. If the Jets can continue to do the things that got them on this four-game winning streak, maybe a Wild Card berth in the playoffs doesn’t sound too crazy.

Still, the Jets are 9-5 with two games left to go against familiar rivals in the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills. The Jets have a couple days off before they have to regroup and take on the Patriots for the second time this season in a pivotal Week 16 match-up.

Next: Jets clinch their first winning season since 2010

The good news for the Jets is that this one will be back in MetLife, it wasn’t pretty Saturday night, but that’s all right with Bowles.

Got the job done. #JetUp pic.twitter.com/edAzmLGHuJ

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 20, 2015