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Bowles: We Have to Develop Killer Instinct

Jets Started Fast Again but Couldn't Finish vs. Dolphins

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For the second consecutive week, the Jets offense came out firing, but didn't execute down the stretch as the team fell to 3-4 in a 31-28 loss to the Dolphins in South Florida. 

The Jets put up 21 points in the first half, which is more than the Dolphins had allowed in a full game all season. It also marked the most first-half points the Green & White have scored in Miami since 1988. After scoring a total of seven points in the first quarter through five weeks, the Jets combined for 21 points in the first quarter and 35 points in the first half in Weeks 6 and 7, but couldn't come out with a win in either contest.

"It's frustrating," head coach Todd Bowles said. "We had a chance to finish and we didn't. We made too many mistakes, too many blunders. At some point we have to develop some killer instincts to finish ballgames."

In the first half Sunday, quarterback Josh McCown completed 10 of his 15 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns for rating of 142.5. With two minutes remaining in the first half, McCown also rushed for his second touchdown this season and the 10th of his career to give the Jets a 21-14 lead.

"We were executing and guys were making plays, but we have to find a way to keep that up," he said. "We can't go out there and get behind the sticks with sacks, penalties or anything that hurts us like minus-runs and incompletions. We have to find a way to make that better and I think we will.

"We'll look at those things that were making our offense hum. We were going and putting points up. We have to find a way to capture that for four quarters."

In the final two frames, the offense only mustered 81 yards and penalties on both sides of the ball hampered the team throughout the game as the Jets had 12 penalties for 124 yards.

"It was big," Bowles said of the yellow laundry. "It was frustrating. It gave them those drives in the first half and kept some alive in the second half. With 12 penalties you aren't going to win the ballgame. Too many untimely penalties and too many, period. Until we learn that lesson, it' going to be tough sledding."

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The Green & White have lost their last two games by a combined nine points and held 14-point leads in both. Against the Patriots in Week 6, the Jets climbed out to an early 14-0 lead and fell 24-17. Against the Dolphins, they held a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter but fell on a late Cody Parkey field goal. 

"It's different than last week, but it's a tough one," Bowles said. "We had an opportunity to win a division game on the road. We have to start winning on the road if we want to go somewhere and it was a tough game. Give them credit. They made plays."

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