5 Jets that won the game against Dolphins

It’s a good week to be a New York Jets fan…no seriously! Gang Green had their home opener on Sunday and came away with the surprising, yet convincing win. Which players are responsible for this unprecedented victory?

Sound the alarms and reach for the heavens. The Apocolypse is coming. The New York Jets have won a football game.

Yes, you read that correctly. You are not hallucinating. What we watched on Sunday was a real football game played by the real  Jets team.

I know that may be hard to believe but try and trust me on this.

In all seriousness, the Jets handed the Miami Dolphins their first loss of the season and they did so in dominating fashion. The offense was very efficient in the air and Josh McCown played one of the best games of his career as he looked right at home in John Morton’s West Coast offense. On the other side of the ball, the defense looked like the unit we expected but didn’t get over the first two weeks of the season.

What specific players can we thank for this unlikely, but satisfying victory? Here are the top five Jets that won the game against the Dolphins but first, let’s give out some honorable mentions.

Next: Honorable Mentions

Honorable Mentions

The competition was fierce this week so it only seems right to spread the love and highlight some of the players that played well but just fell short of this list.

Yes, there were too many Jets players that played well. What a world we live in.

Nose tackle Steve McLendon put together a nice game for himself plugging up some holes in the middle and proved to be a persistent presence in the run game. McLendon was a large part of the reason that the Jets were able to stop Jay Ajayi so effectively on the ground.

Dakota Dozier filled in modestly for the injured Brian Winters allowing minimal pressure from one of the best DT’s in the league in Ndamukong Suh.

The recently acquired David Bass made a name for himself on Sunday as the former Seattle Seahawk was used in a number of blitz packages and recorded three tackles and a sack on the day. Not bad for a guy who was signed three days ago.

Perhaps the biggest shoutout should go to Terrence Brooks who just missed making it onto this list. The 4th-year safety was acquired by the Jets in a straight up deal for Dexter McDougle back in late August in a move that was highly questionable at the time.

Any and all criticism seems to have gone away as Brooks came away with two interceptions on the day (one on a fake punt) and was used as a third safety in multiple defensive formations. He brought pressure on the quarterback a couple of times and was able to make his presence felt throughout the game.

Despite these players’ contributions, there were five others who impacted the Jets chances at a victory even more so than the aforementioned four.

Next: 5. Robby Anderson

5. Wide Receiver Robby Anderson

Robby Anderson is on this list for one reason.

With the Jets up 3-0 on the ‘Fins late in the second quarter, Anderson caught a 69-yard pass from McCown which gave New York a 10-0 lead and Gang Green never looked back.

It was a big play from a supposed “big play” receiver, something that had been lacking during his first two games of the season. Anderson has blazing speed and should be able to get open a decent amount if he’s in one-on-one coverage with no safety help.

He is best used as a player to send on “go-routes” and use his speed to stretch the field rather than having him run the underneath routes so commonly associated with a West Coast offense.

If the Jets can continue to use him in this manner, the team will find themselves with an exciting playmaker on an offense void of excitement and playmakers.

Some of this responsibility must fall on the shoulders of Anderson, however. He needs to be able to have games like this more consistently and be a steady force on offense if he wants to live up to his true potential.

But games like this show the kind of impact he could have when on his game.

Next: 4. Demario Davis

4. Linebacker Demario Davis

Demario Davis once again makes it onto this list for the third straight week but this time it’s with praise rather than criticism.

The former Cleveland Brown had his best game since his return to the Big Apple and looked like a completely different player in almost all aspects of his game. He played excellent in pass defense which has been a common drawback in his game throughout his career.

Where he really shined though was in his run defense. Davis finished with a team-high 12 tackles, including 3 for a loss in a game where he dominated the middle of the field and played like a solid starting inside linebacker.

Davis was front and center in a Jets defense that shut down Miami’s Jay Ajayi all day and it’s no coincidence that his best game coincided with the best the Jets have looked against the run this year.

The team clearly still misses David Harris but more performances such as this one will help to soften the blow and lead to a more successful Jets defensive effort.

Next: 3. Darryl Roberts

3. Cornerback Darryl Roberts

The Jets, clearly upset with the play of the young Juston Burris last week, opted for a change at cornerback as Darryl Roberts assumed the role of the outside cornerback opposite Morris Claiborne in the base nickel defense.

The change paid off.

The Dolphins offense looked lost all day and Jay Cutler struggled to find any open receivers. The majority of that is due to the excellent work of the Jets secondary. Roberts, in particular, looked very solid in his first real opportunity for extended action.

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The former 7th-round pick out of Marshall looked good in limited playing time this year and was penciled in as the team’s dime corner after passing former starter Marcus Williams on the depth chart in the preseason. Given the chance to show his skills, he did just that as he consistently shut down DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, or whoever he was lined up against all game long.

The few catches he did allow were limited to short gains as he made a few nice open field tackles as well, something that isn’t always seen from many cornerbacks.

It was an encouraging showing, one that leaves everyone wanting to see more of the former Patriots defensive back.

Unless you’re Juston Burris.

Next: 2. Josh McCown

2. Quarterback Josh McCown

At 38 years of age, we all know what Josh McCown is as a quarterback.

He’s a competent passer and could be effective at times but his natural limitations and carelessness with the football hold him back from being a good starting quarterback.

We know this.

However, none of that is to take away from the excellent performance that McCown put together Sunday during the Jets 20-6 victory. The 15-year veteran was 18 of 23 in the air and threw for 249 yards and a touchdown in a clear sign that although he may be 38 years old and playing for his 10th NFL franchise, he still has something left in the tank.

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McCown was smart with his reads and accurate with his passes en route to his best game as a Jet thus far. He didn’t make any unnecessary risks and connected on his only deep ball thrown, a 69-yard TD to Robby Anderson.

It’s hard to argue with a performance like that.

McCown has swiftly adapted to new offensive coordinator John Morton’s West Coast offense and his play-style and arm talent are a perfect fit for the system.

The Jets future evidently isn’t in the hands of a 38-year old journeyman, but it’s certainly nice seeing a veteran such as McCown still going strong and not throwing in the towel in a situation such as his.

Congrats on the win Mr. McCown, well deserved.

Next: 1. Jamal Adams

1. Safety Jamal Adams

While Josh McCown may not be the future of this football team, Jamal Adams showed Sunday why he is widely considered to be just that.

The rookie out of LSU had looked good over his first two professional games but there was no place like home for Adams as he put together his best professional game to date in the Jets home opener.

First, Adams showed his range as he darted across the field to deflect a sideline pass out of the hands of the awaiting receiver, DeVante Parker. The very next play, Adams crept up to the line of scrimmage and displayed his pass rush traits by sacking Jay Cutler on 3rd and 8 to force 4th down.

Boom. Miami Dolphins 3-and-out just like that, all thanks to Adams.

He is a special breed of player with the potential to be one of the premier safeties in this league. He’s a do-it-all type of athlete with the ability to play as a single-high safety and roams as if he was playing center field while still possessing the hard-hitting and tackling traits necessary to be an incredible box safety who can stuff the run and rush the passer.

Players like that are hard to find.

Combine that with his superb leadership ability and vocal presence on defense and you have a special, special individual.

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On a Jets team that has been deprived of optimism and promise in recent weeks, Adams remains one of the few bright spots and before long, we could be mentioning his name with some of the best in the league.

Jets fans prepare yourselves, as the Jamal Adams show has only just begun.