QB Justin Fields was back after missing a game with a concussion, but not even his rushing TD, a TD pass to WR Garrett Wilson, his 81 yards picked up on the ground and 226 yards passing could overcome a mountain of mistakes as the Jets lost their fourth straight, 27-21, at Miami in a division collision in the AFC East on Monday night.
After sustaining a head injury against Buffalo two weeks ago, Fields was in the concussion protocol and was a spectator last week against Tampa Bay. And although the Jets spotted the Dolphins an early field goal, they put together a sustained drive, 11 of 12 plays were runs, but the drive ended on a sour note when Braelon Allen fumbled on his way into the end zone after the Jets held the ball for more than 7 minutes. The turnover was one of three by the Green & White.
"It's frustrating for sure, but if we look at it from a far perspective, we have three games that were lost by one score," Fields said. "And this is kind of how this league works -- close at the end. And I think tonight we shot ourselves in the foot a lot, turning the ball over, penalties [13 for 101 yards]. But it's super frustrating. But I'm not losing faith. Nobody in the locker room's losing faith. And all we're going to do is keep our head down and get to work."
The Jets have still not provided HC Aaron Glenn with his first win while they dropped their 10th straight game at Miami. Though that first turnover, one of three Jets fumbles in the game (1 by Fields, and another by Isaiah Williams on the second-half kickoff) left the Jets with nothing after a long drive.
"I know that first drive was a good drive," Field said. "But those penalties and turnovers are unacceptable."
After the Jets fell behind, 17-3, early in the third quarter Fields came alive. Facing a four-and-1 play close to midfield, he eluded a furious Dolphins rush, changed direction and scampered down the far sideline 43 yards into the end zone.
The penalties, however, were crushing. On one play, Fields found Wilson in the end zone, but his former teammate at Ohio State was flagged for offensive pass interference. Several pre-snap penalties, among others on the offense, left the Jets chasing a game they never caught up to.
"I thought he did some really good things," Glenn said, referring to Fields. "I mean, obviously he was running around out there making plays with his feet. And I thought toward the end of the game he was dealing the ball pretty well. But I really want to look at, look at the tape and look at the decisions and things like that."
Overall, Fields completed 20-of-27 passes for 226 yards, which included a late 23-yard TD pass to Wilson, who made a spectacular catch, with 1:49 to play in the game. Fields kept the ball and cruised into the end zone for a 2-point conversion to get the Jets within 6 points. But their onside kick was recovered by Miami.
"We've lost three games within one score, so we're going to be in this position a lot more," Fields said. "And I feel like those three games that we've lost, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot. So just constantly preaching and homing in on the fact, and I'm going to continue to say it. And I told you guys after the game, we have 13 games, guaranteed, left. Keep working. Just keep going. It's early in the season. It's four games, and of course, we want a better start than that. But like I said, if we keep working, we know the team we can be."
