The New York Jets failed to put an end to their losing streak as they’ve now lost five consecutive games. The latest defeat was a dismal 13-8 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13, handing the Jets a 4-8 record.
Similar to most weeks, the offense was stagnant and unable to produce enough points to win. Amid the team’s five-game losing streak, this was the third game where the Jets weren’t able to find the end zone on offense.
With another loss on the docket, here are our six takeaways from the Jets’ disappointing defeat to the Falcons in Week 13.
Is it Trevor Siemian time?
Tim Boyle made his second start for the Jets on Sunday, but New York had its fourth quarterback take snaps from under center against the Falcons. With the offense not showing any improvements, Robert Saleh elected to bench Boyle in favor of Trevor Siemian in the second half. Siemian would complete five of his 13 attempts for 66 yards, along with recording an eight-yard run. Considering the Jets aren’t playing for much down the stretch, it could be Siemian making the start for the Jets in Week 14 versus the Houston Texans.
Dalvin Cook was more effective than Breece Hall
There were reports before Sunday’s contest that the Jets wanted to get veteran Dalvin Cook more touches. While Breece Hall remained a focal point of the offense, Cook was more effective on the ground than the second-year back. Cook finished with 35 yards on nine attempts, while Hall registered only 16 yards on 13 attempts. Saleh called out Hall following last week’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, so it’s safe to assume Cook sees a larger role moving forward given how the two backs performed in Week 13.
Penalties continue to plague the Jets
Aside from the woes on offense, the Jets simply can’t stop shooting themselves in the foot, too. The Jets had eight penalties for 56 yards in the first half and concluded the game with 11 penalties for 71 yards. Through 13 weeks, the Jets have seven games where they’ve been penalized at least six times for 40-plus yards. For a team that lacks firepower on offense, they can’t afford to make things tougher on themselves on both sides of the ball. Penalties are typically attributed to coaching, so Saleh will likely have to answer for the team’s mental errors.
The defense contained Bijan Robinson
Entering Sunday’s matchup, the focal point for New York’s defense was bottling up Bijan Robinson. The rookie running back has emerged as the primary weapon for the Falcons in recent weeks, but the Jets did a wonderful job limiting his production. Robinson tallied only 53 rushing yards on a game-high 18 attempts, along with three receptions for 26 yards. There was also a moment where the Jets tackled Robinson for a safety as they didn’t allow the dynamic back to get to the outside on the run.
Jermaine Johnson was fantastic
Even in another loss, it is worth noting how well Jermaine Johnson performed for the Jets. The second-year edge rusher notched four tackles, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks as he wreaked havoc on the Falcons. Besides his pass-rushing production, there was a play in the fourth quarter where Johnson set the edge and tackled Cordarrelle Patterson behind the line of scrimmage in an impressive display of athleticism. Despite the team’s struggles, Johnson has been a major bright spot in his sophomore campaign.
Xavier Gipson needs to be more involved
The Jets haven’t had a wide receiver step up aside from Garrett Wilson this season, but they may have someone who can get more involved. Undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson has been getting more snaps on offense in recent weeks, and he had his best outing of the season with a team-high five receptions for 77 yards against the Falcons. Gipson made receptions of 36 and 25 yards in Sunday’s loss, flashing his deep-threat ability. With Allen Lazard being a non-factor, Gipson should continue to see an expanded role in the passing game.
