Three sets of statistical trends, records, marks and highlights by the Jets in their 29-27 loss to the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday:
More to Come from Will McDonald?
WR Garrett Wilson had a great description for Will McDonald IV's blocked-FG-return touchdown to give the Jets their short-lived 27-26 lead at Tampa Bay: "That is a pure will play." Did Wilson mean "will" or "Will"? Both, no doubt.
McDonald's blocked-FG-return TD was the Jets' sixth all-time. The first four: Bobby Jackson (1982, at MIN), Jerry Holmes (1983, vs. LA Rams), Rich Miano (1987, vs. CIN) and George Radachowsky (1989, at MIA). The most recent came in 1997, with Corwin Brown rejecting Cole Ford's 35-yard try and Ray Mickens returning the loose ball 72 yards for the score in the 23-22 Meadowlands win over Oakland,
McDonald's play was the first time in franchise history that a blocked-FG scorer was also the kick blocker. It was also the first time the Jets scored on a blocked-FG return but lost the game.
"I was getting closer and closer on each one that I had," McDonald said. "I think definitely down the line I can make some more blocks."
Two blocked FGs in the same season? A number of NFL players have multiple rejections, but the last to do it one season was Yetur Gross-Matos for Carolina in 2022. The last Jet with 2 FG blocks in a season: Shane Burton, both against the Bills, in 2000.
And for the league's last two-time snuff-scoop-scoot-and-score player in one season, we have to go back-back-back to 2003 and Ed Reed, who had 2 FG blocks and 2 TDs for the Ravens.
Flag Day at Tampa Bay
HC Aaron Glenn noted that one sack of Baker Mayfield was not a complete measure of the Jets' pass rush. Indeed, the Buccaneers offense was yellow-flagged for 5 holds in the first quarter and 7 holds on the day.
Four of the 7 holds came on passing plays, 3 on rushes. And those first 5 holds came in an 11-snap span on the Bucs' opening drive. First, Michael Carter was held on a running play. Then came a pulldown of Jowon Briggs (pass), Sauce Gardner (downfield on a pass), Quinnen Williams (pass rush), and Will McDonald (pass rush). Quinnen was then held again on a second-quarter rush and Leonard Taylor on a third-quarter run. Since 1997, the most offensive holds marked off against opponents in an entire Jets game was 4, which happened 3 times.
Total-flags-wise, the Bucs' 14 penalties assessed for 124 yards weren't the most penalties or yards by a Jets opponent. But since 1970, Tampa's 7 total first-quarter penalties tied for the most in an opening period by a Jets opponent, and the Bucs' 10 first-half infractions broke the mark of 9, by five previous opponents, most recently in 2013 by ... the Bucs.
Uncompleted Comeback
Had the Jets held onto their late 27-26 lead, the 17-point rebound from their 23-6 deficit would have tied for the third-largest comeback victory in franchise history. In going ahead but falling back, they tied for the 2nd-largest comeback in a defeat.
The Green & White's largest deficit overcome in a loss, 21 points, occurred in the 1989 season opener at the Meadowlands. They spotted the Patriots a 21-0 halftime lead, roared back on two Ken O'Brien touchdown passes for s 24-21 lead with 7:28 to play, but lost 27-24 on Reggie Dupard's short run with 1:55 left.
Eleven seasons before that, in 1978 at Cleveland, the Jets and QB Matt Robinson fell behind by 27-10 before scrambling back to take a 34-27 lead. But they gave up a TD to Brian Sipe and the Browns with 14 seconds in regulation, then the Don Cockcroft FG in OT for the Browns' 37-34 win.
