New England Patriots vs. New York Jets: Full Report Card Grades for New York
The New York Jets gave it all they had, but they ultimately fell short against Tom Brady and the mighty New England Patriots on Sunday, falling 17-16.
In what was supposedly Rex Ryan's last home game, the Jets put together a gritty and inspired performance.
The defense was outstanding throughout the game, and the offense had some nice drives.
However, untimely mistakes and missed opportunities doomed the team yet again, dropping New York to 3-12 on the year.
Click through for full grades and analysis for each Jets positional unit in the tough loss.
Quarterback
1 of 10
It was an up-and-down day for Geno Smith.
He started off the game poorly, overthrowing several receivers and appearing unsettled in the pocket.
However, Smith got into a rhythm in the middle of the contest, as he connected with his receivers on seemingly every pass attempt and led three scoring drives.
He appeared composed and confident in the pocket, but he made one huge mistake that changed the outlook of the game.
With the Jets clinging to a three-point lead in the final quarter, Smith threw a critical interception on a late pass. The Patriots turned the turnover into seven points and a victory.
The second-year quarterback was sharp for most of the game, but mistakes continue to plague him.
Grade: C
Running Back
2 of 10
The Jets couldn't repeat the same kind of rushing success that they had in the last meeting with the Patriots.
New York managed just 3.6 yards per carry on the day, and most of the rushing yardage came on one drive.
Chris Ivory's tough running led to some decent success, as he managed 53 yards on just 11 carries. However, Chris Johnson and Bilal Powell were consistently shut down by New England's defensive front.
The offensive line didn't do them many favors, but it was a so-so performance from Gang Green's trio of running backs.
If the Jets were able to control the game on the ground, they would have likely walked out of MetLife Stadium with a victory.
Grade: C
Wide Receiver/Tight End
3 of 10
Percy Harvin and Eric Decker have been the offense's only receiving weapons in the last two months, but that was not the case on Sunday.
Harvin, who was at less than 100 percent after spraining his ankle two weeks ago, managed four catches for 44 yards, while Decker caught just two balls for 21 yards.
Harvin and Decker were consistently blanketed by Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, which forced Geno Smith to distribute the ball.
Jeremy Kerley and Jeff Cumberland finally stepped up and made some plays. The pair found holes in New England's secondary and made several big catches.
If New York can get decent production out of its secondary receivers, the passing attack might actually have some potential.
Grade: B
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Offensive Line
4 of 10
The offensive line didn't get the same kind of push that it got in the game in Foxborough, specifically in the running game, but it still put together a solid performance.
The line gave Geno Smith plenty of time in the pocket every time he dropped back, as New England managed just two sacks on the day.
Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold was carted off in the second quarter after suffering an ankle injury, but the unit did not miss a beat.
In what has been a wholly disappointing year from the offensive line, the unit had one of its grittiest and toughest performances on Sunday.
If the line can play like that on a consistent basis, the offense, especially Smith, would experience a lot more success.
Grade: B+
Defensive Line
5 of 10
With Muhammad Wilkerson back in the starting lineup, the defensive line played like it was possessed.
The defensive front made the Patriots one-dimensional by shutting down the rushing attack early, and it kept Tom Brady off balance all game long.
The Patriots offensive line had no answer for the unit, as Sheldon Richardson, Wilkerson and Quinton Coples each managed half a sack and combined for five quarterback hits.
In a year of turmoil, the defensive line has been the one stable positional unit. And it will only get better as the young superstars gain more experience with one another.
Oh, and Wilkerson and Richardson will be paid handsomely for their contributions this offseason or the next.
Grade: A
Linebacker
6 of 10
The linebacker corps continues to be the most underrated positional unit on the roster.
The unit provided consistent pressure off the edge, as well as strong run defense and pass coverage.
Calvin Pace was active in the pass-rushing department, registering a sack, two quarterback hits and multiple pressures.
David Harris and Demario Davis continued to be the stars of the middle of the defense, though.
The pair combined for 19 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, a pass deflection and two quarterback hits.
Harris and Davis were also superb in coverage, blanketing Rob Gronkowski on numerous occasions.
The linebacker corps will continue to be a strength for as long as Harris is around. The front office needs to make re-signing him a priority this offseason.
Grade: A-
Secondary
7 of 10
On a day when the front seven shined, the secondary more than held its own.
The unit, obviously benefiting from the absence of Julian Edelman, didn't allow any big plays on the afternoon, and it was a huge reason why Tom Brady only managed 182 yards on the day.
Marcus Williams was exceptional in his efforts. The undrafted rookie recorded seven tackles, provided terrific coverage on Rob Gronkowski throughout the day and had a huge interception in the fourth quarter.
The makeshift defensive backs were also tremendous in the tackling department. The Patriots tried to get things going with short passes, but the secondary did a great job of wrapping up the receiver immediately after the catch.
The secondary still needs to significantly improve this offseason, but it put together one of its finer efforts on Sunday.
Grade: B+
Special Teams
8 of 10
Nick Folk has been one of the NFL's most reliable kickers in recent seasons, but he's struggled the last few weeks.
He nailed three chip shots in the game but missed a critical 52-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that would have given the Jets the lead.
The kick was partially blocked, but Folk needs to make sure the kick has the height to make it past the line of scrimmage.
The special teams coverage unit also struggled, as it allowed a couple of big runbacks by Danny Amendola that put the Patriots in great field position.
Grade: D+
Coaching
9 of 10
Rex Ryan is a great motivator and an amazing defensive mind.
He showed both aspects in Week 16.
The talent-starved Jets, obviously playing for their embattled head coach, went toe-to-toe with the best team in the NFL for 60 minutes.
Ryan's defensive play-calling was spectacular, as he threw Brady off his game with a consistent pass rush throughout the game.
Brady and the red-hot Patriots offense were never able to get into a rhythm, and it was largely due to Ryan's preparation and play-calling.
On the offensive side of the ball, the team largely struggled.
Marty Mornhinweg mixed it up with several direct snaps and Wildcat calls, but he didn't try to challenge New England deep.
In the red zone, the offense also continued to have problems, scoring just one touchdown in four appearances. Mornhinweg's play-calling continues to be too conservative at that end of the field.
Grade: B+
Cumulative Grade
10 of 10
| Positional Unit | Grade |
| QB | C |
| RB | C |
| WR/TE | B |
| OL | B+ |
| DL | A |
| LB | A- |
| Secondary | B+ |
| Special Teams | D+ |
| Coaching | B+ |
Cumulative Grade: B
For the second time this season, the Jets outplayed the Patriots.
And for the second time, they lost a heartbreaker.
The defense was dominant throughout the game, and the Patriots' touchdowns were more of a result of good starting field position than poor play by the Jets defense.
However, the offense was inconsistent, once again struggling to convert in the red zone.
Rex Ryan and his troops have been on the verge of victory so many times this season, but winning and competing are two entirely different things.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
