Colts vs. Jets: Week 6 special teams grades

It was a historic night for the New York Jets special teams as the team made all seven of their field goal attempts in their 42-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. What grade did the unit earn following this monumental afternoon?

The New York Jets special teams output on Sunday began and ended with one man.

The Jets kicker put together a truly remarkable afternoon connecting on all seven of his attempted field goals to power the team to a victory over the Indianapolis Colts. To put his incredible day into perspective, let’s quickly run down a few stats.

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Myers seven field goals made were the most by any New York Jet in franchise history and the second-most all-time by an NFL player. He is one of only six players to make seven or more field goals in a game and only the late Rob Bironas has nailed more field goals in a game with eight back in 2007.

Four NFL teams haven’t even made seven field goals yet through six weeks this season and Myers did that in just one game.

On top of that, Myers 274 cumulative field goal yards are the most by any player in an NFL game with the former Jacksonville Jaguar connecting on three kicks from 45 yards out or more. He wasn’t just making chip shots out there.

With his three converted PAT’s, Myers totaled 24 of the Jets 42 points on Sunday with his point total being the second-most by a player in a single game who did not score a touchdown. Furthermore, Myers 63 points on the season ranks second in the NFL with only Los Angeles Rams star running back Todd Gurley accounting for more.

That last one wasn’t necessarily about this particular game but it was too astounding not to include it.

Simply put, Myers was outstanding on Sunday.

The Marist product was acquired midway through the preseason with the team desperate for help at the kicking position. It’s not as if Myers joined the team with a stellar track record either.

In fact, his 86 extra point percentage ranked dead last out of all eligible kickers since he had entered the league back in 2015. The Jaguars thought so little of him that they decided to replace him midseason after a game in which he missed three field goals in 2017.

But the kicking position is about as streaky of a position as you will find in professional sports and it seems as if Myers has hit his stride after his recent kicking performances.

If Myers is able to keep this level of consistency up for the remainder of the season, the Jets may have one of their most reliable kicking options in recent memory at their disposal. Now one could only hope the team gives him more extra point opportunities as opposed to field goals.

The remainder of the Jets special teams unit wasn’t asked to do much and as a result, didn’t produce much. Punter Lachlan Edwards punted just once, a 43-yarder that netted no return. While this kick wasn’t the best example of Edwards improvement, it goes without saying that the Aussie punter has improved immensely since his rookie season.

Edwards currently ranks seventh in the NFL with a 47.7-yard punt average and fourth in the NFL with a 43.1 net average. Although the team didn’t need him much in this game, it’s nice to know that the Jets have a reliable punter to help them flip the field position when needed.

Return man Andre Roberts also had a relatively uneventful day returning three kicks for 69 total yards and returning one punt for just six yards. Roberts currently ranks first in the NFL with 237 punt yards and has earned an 87.5 grade as a returner from Pro Football Focus, more than 10 points higher than the next ranked return man.

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While his day was fairly routine, Roberts has given the Jets a dependable and dynamic returner for what feels like the first time in years. Overall, it’s hard to give the Jets special teams anything other than an “A” given Myers incredible performance. When your special teams carry your team to victory, it’s safe to assume they did something right.

Final Grade: A

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