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Jaguars vs. Jets Week 16 recap: Everything we know

gary phillips
·3 min read

The Jets are 1-0 in the Ron Middleton Era.

New York’s temporary head coach picked up a win against his old team Sunday, as the Jets held off the Jaguars for a 26-21 win at MetLife Stadium. Zach Wilson outperformed fellow top pick Trevor Lawrence despite a mundane passing effort, and the Jets’ ground game took off on multiple fronts.

The win improved Gang Green’s record to 4-11 — and crushed its chances of landing the No. 1 pick — while Jacksonville fell to 2-13. Here’s a look at what happened in this battle of basement-dwellers.

Final Score:

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2

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F

JAX

3

9

3

6

21

NYJ

6

7

3

10

26

Game Notes

(AP Photo/John Munson)

Lawrence vs. Wilson: One matchup won’t determine who got the better player, especially when both rookie quarterbacks have struggled this season, but Wilson looked a lot sharper than Lawrence on Sunday. Lawrence didn’t find the end zone, fumbled twice and turned the ball over once, while Wilson found paydirt twice and didn’t turn the ball over despite some close calls. Lawrence out-threw Wilson, 280 yards to a measly 102, but Wilson made up for his lack of passing yardage with a historic day on the ground.

A Variety of Scoring: The Jets scored touchdowns in a number of ways Sunday, making their way into the endzone on the ground, through the air and via the return game. The lone passing touchdown was even caught by a leaping offensive lineman.

New Faces, New Result: COVID-19 and injuries left the Jets’ depth decimated at multiple positions, including safety, wide receiver and across the offensive line. Robert Saleh also missed the game and was replaced by Middleton. New York used five guys that had never previously taken a snap for them, making Sunday’s win all the more impressive, even if it came against the lowly Jaguars.

Standout Performers

(AP Photo/John Munson)

WR Braxton Berrios: Berrios continued his Pro Bowl-worthy season Sunday, shooting out of a cannon for a 102-yard kickoff return early in the second quarter. Berrios finished the game with 150 yards on four total returns. He also caught five passes for 37 yards and took a handoff for three yards.

QB Zach Wilson: Wilson didn’t do too much with his arm outside of a fourth-quarter, fourth-down touchdown to OL Conor McDermott, but the rookie’s legs were a difference-maker. Accentuated by a 52-yard touchdown run, Wilson scampered for 91 yards on four carries. The 22-year-old’s rushing total set a new franchise record for quarterbacks.

RB Michael Carter: Wilson wasn’t the only Jets rookie who thrived on the ground, as Carter surpassed 100 rushing yards for the first time in his career. He totaled 118 yards on 16 carries.

What's Next?

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets will take on a familiar foe in an unfamiliar uniform when Tom Brady and the Buccaneers visit MetLife Stadium in Week 17.

After years of torturing Gang Green with the Patriots, Brady is looking for his 30th career win against the Jets. His opportunity begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2.

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