Jets vs. Titans: Takeaways from New York's 16-11 Win over Tennessee
Rex Ryan's New York Jets were finally able to get back in the win column in Week 15, but it came at a time when most of their fans would actually prefer if they lose.
In the first 16-11 final score in NFL history, the Jets were at least able to show that they have not phoned in their rest of their season. Geno Smith was turnover-free, while the defense made just enough stops to seal the victory.
Here are some takeaways from the Jets' (ill-timed) win over the Tennessee Titans.
Geno Smith Looks Serviceable
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There is nothing Geno Smith can do over the next few weeks to convince the Jets beyond any doubt that he is the future of the franchise. However, there is no debating the fact that he has looked like a much better player following his game-opening pick-six against the Minnesota Vikings last week.
Going 16-of-28 for 179 yards and a touchdown does not jump off the page, but the fact that he did not turn the ball over is the most promising aspect of his recent play. His stat line would have been much more impressive if Eric Decker had not dropped a wide-open deep pass in the second half.
Again, Smith may well already be out of the running to be the Jets' starting quarterback beyond 2014, but he has at least reminded his doubters that he has enough talent to keep him around in case he eventually does develop into something worthwhile.
Eric Decker Enjoys Big Afternoon
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Aside from one brutal drop on a ball lost in the lights, Eric Decker had a long-awaited, productive outing against the Titans, catching seven passes for 100 yards that included a 48-yard catch-and-run that was a toe placement away from a touchdown.
Coming from the high-flying Denver Broncos attack, Decker was destined to see a dip in his statistical output this year, but injuries and downright atrocious quarterback play have made this season a nightmare that has started to impact his mental health, at least according to an interview his wife gave on The Todd Show.
This week, Decker truly looked like the No. 1 target the Jets have been counting on him to be, as his production was the difference between a win and a loss. After all, Jeff Cumberland's two-catch game was the second-most productive of any Jets receiver.
Decker will have to be much more productive in 2015 to give the Jets a fair return on their investment, but he took a step in the right direction in at least finishing the season on a high note with his first 100-yard performance as a Jet.
Running Game Stays Grounded
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The Jets offense has been flat-out offensive at points this season, but they have always at least been able to run the ball in nearly all of their games.
Against the Titans, however, the Jets running game was highly pedestrian, forcing the Jets to win a close-to-the-vest game through the air, explaining the general ugliness of this victory.
Chris Johnson's workload predictably increased against his former team. He did manage to crank out 55 yards on 10 carries, but 37 of those yards came from one run (typical of a Johnson performance). Outside of that run, Johnson and Chris Ivory's 2.1 yards per carry hardly made life easier on Geno Smith and the passing game.
This is no cause for concern in the long term—in fact, the Jets pulling out a win in spite of an average day on the ground makes the win even more "impressive." If the Jets want to upset the Miami Dolphins or New England Patriots in these final two games, however, the ground attack must be more effective.
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Calvin Pryor Cannot Catch a Break
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Outside of moving up in the draft order, the Jets would love nothing more than to see their rookies show signs of significant improvement in these otherwise-meaningless games.
First-round safety Calvin Pryor appeared to finally start turning the corner, seeing more playing time with the starting defense. Just a few snaps after making a couple big hits, Pryor's luck turned for the worse as he suffered another injury that took him out of the lineup for a good chunk of the game.
Pryor would eventually return but only appeared to see time on special teams.
"Safety Calvin Pryor returns to Jets-Tennessee Titans in second half after hurting shoulder: http://t.co/EwaEh0Utgr
— Darryl Slater (@DarrylSlater) December 14, 2014"
Pryor has shown flashes throughout the season, but it seems as if whenever he takes a step forward, he takes another two steps back.
It would be foolish to write off Pryor's career at this point, but he will be on a much shorter leash next season if the Jets make widespread regime changes. A new administration will not be interested in making a player they had no part in drafting get meaningful playing time. Pryor will have to earn every chance he gets—as if he were never taken in the first round.
Ik Enemkpali Shows Promise
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It has been a rough season for John Idzik's 2014 draft class, but at least one late-round pick is finally starting to provide some value late in the season.
Sixth-round linebacker Ik Enemkpali has been fairly impressive in his limited action. He would have had his first career sack on Charlie Whitehurst if it was not negated by Kyle Wilson's holding penalty. He showed off some instincts and athleticism by backing out of a pass rush to bat down a bump-off.
With a strong, stocky build, Enemkpali's strong bull rush was on display on multiple pressures in passing situations.
Enemkpali has a long way to go before he gets consideration to be a full-time starter, but the Jets will gladly take any kind of promising upside from their young players at this point.
Quinton Coples Finally Producing
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Quinton Coples' path as a former first-round pick has been anything but typical. A position change and seemingly annual injuries have negated all of the potential he has flashed since he was drafted in 2012. With just one sack on the season, it appeared as if his experiment at outside linebacker has resulted in a failure.
Just when Coples was about to be written off, his two-sack performance against the Titans reminded why he was such a high draft pick in the first place.
Coples has been a much better player this season as both a run-defender and a pass-rusher than his sack total would indicate, but Coples' lack of numerical production has to be somewhat of a concern. As shallow as it may seem, players are paid on how often they sack the quarterback, not fill running lanes and merely apply pressure.
As he plays out the final year of his rookie deal in 2015, the Jets will be making a decision on whether or not he is worth keeping around beyond that time or if his constant production spikes are too frustrating to deal with.
Rex Ryan's Voice Still Carries Weight
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Rex Ryan's future (or lack thereof) with the Jets has been written on the wall for most of this disastrous season, but his lack of job security has not taken an ounce of effort away from his players in these meaningless games.
The Jets played another meaningless game against an equally inept opponent as if their season was still on the line. While it was not pretty, the fact that they are still clearly invested in winning games is evidence that Ryan and his staff are still respected inside the locker room, even if their record indicates otherwise.
The 2014 Jets are not a good team, but not because of chemistry or respect for each other. They simply are not a good enough team to win games from a talent standpoint.
"I can assure you there isn't "toxic" environment in the Jets' locker room. I have been amazed how close they are considering record.
— Dan Leberfeld (@jetswhispers) December 6, 2014"
Getting another head coaching job immediately after this season following his inevitable firing will not be easy for Ryan coming off a three-win season, but the fact that his team is still playing hard will prove to any prospective employer that his players respect him regardless of their record.
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