AFC East stock up, stock down: Allen’s miscues, heroics spark Jets

The Miami Dolphins displayed the qualities of a division champion, whereas the New York Jets had a Corridor of Fame quarterback for simply 75 seconds. Here is whose inventory is trending up and down within the AFC East:

Refill

Jets protection and particular groups: On an evening when New York watched its Tremendous Bowl aspirations disappear as quarterback Aaron Rodgers ruptured his Achilles 4 snaps into his Jets debut, the protection and particular groups unit gave followers one thing to cheer about. 

New York’s protection continued to trigger issues for Josh Allen, sacking Buffalo’s signal-caller 5 instances and forcing him to commit 4 turnovers, highlighted by security Jordan Whitehead’s three interceptions. Per ESPN’s Field Yates, Whitehead earned himself a $250k bonus on account of an incentive clause in his contract, which required him to document three interceptions over the course of the common season.

To cap off the night, undrafted free agent rookie and “Onerous Knocks” star Xavier Gipson clinched the 22-16 win on a 65-yard walk-off punt return, the third time a punt was returned for a landing throughout additional time in NFL historical past. With Rodgers out for the season, New York will want the protection and particular groups to proceed carrying the staff, because it has one of many extra daunting schedules within the NFL.  

QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins: After having profession years final season, the Dolphins duo picked up the place it left off and delivered historic performances of their thrilling 36-34 win over the Chargers.

Tagovailoa accomplished 28-of-45 passes for 466 yards, the third most in a Week 1 recreation within the Tremendous Bowl period, to associate with three touchdowns. Two of these touchdowns went to Hill, who recorded 11 receptions for 215 yards, marking his third profession recreation with at the very least 200 receiving yards and a number of scores, which is probably the most by any participant since 1950.

Based on OddsChecker, Tagovailoa has gained early momentum within the MVP race and now has the second-best odds to win the award (+750), whereas Hill has emerged because the front-runner for Offensive Participant of the Yr (+800). 

Mac Jones, New England Patriots quarterback: Other than a 70-yard pick-six, Jones fared properly towards the reigning NFC champion and seems to be returning to Professional Bowl type after a disastrous 2022 season. Jones threw for 316 yards, which might’ve been his third-highest single-game passing whole final yr, and three touchdowns.   

Even so, contemplating New England narrowly misplaced 25-20, Jones was vital of his efficiency when talking to reporters after the sport, pinpointing his poor begin as an space that must be improved.

“I actually didn’t throw any good passes on the primary drive,” Jones mentioned through Zack Cox of NESN. “So, a sluggish begin, and it begins with me. I’ve simply bought to look at the tape and clear it up… We couldn’t rating early, and we simply fell behind due to me. I simply put it on myself.”

Inventory down 

Jets’ Tremendous Bowl odds: Whereas Monday’s win was electrifying, and the protection continues to show it may be a championship-caliber unit, it is time to come again to actuality. With out Rodgers, this Jets staff is not a lot totally different from final season’s 7-10 group.

In spite of everything, the four-time MVP was introduced in to switch former No. 2 total decide Zach Wilson, now the starter for the remainder of the season, barring one other quarterback acquisition.

In aid of Rodgers, Wilson threw for 140 yards with one landing and one interception. If he can solidify himself as an efficient recreation supervisor, Wilson might find yourself salvaging his profession. Nonetheless, given his 16 profession touchdowns to 19 interceptions and 8-14 document as a starter, it looks as if a protracted shot that the Jets will attain the extent they might have with Rodgers.

Josh Allen, Buffalo Payments quarterback: As beforehand talked about, Allen was disappointing throughout Monday’s recreation, throwing three egregious interceptions to Whitehead and committing a expensive fourth-quarter fumble that enabled the Jets to make a go-ahead discipline purpose. Allen led the league in turnovers final season (19) and he was evidently pissed off that his struggles have carried into 2023. 

“Identical s—, identical place, totally different day … I damage our staff tonight,” Allen mentioned throughout a postgame information convention through Awful Announcing. “I price our staff tonight. This feels eerily much like final yr, and I hate that it is the identical. I do.” 

The 27-year-old will purpose to show issues round this week towards a Raiders protection that was one in every of nine groups that did not pressure a turnover of their first recreation of the season. 

JuJu Smith-Schuster, New England Patriots broad receiver: Regardless of denying Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated’s report that his knee was “a large number,” Smith-Schuster was utilized like a participant who remains to be coping with an damage. New England signed the previous Tremendous Bowl champion to a three-year, $33M contract this offseason to switch present Raider Jakobi Meyers. 

But, Smith-Schuster ran the fourth-most routes amongst New England’s pass-catchers within the season opener and wasn’t on the sector late within the fourth quarter when the Patriots had a possibility to win the sport. 

Smith-Schuster nonetheless managed to catch 4 passes for 33 yards, but when his workload would not enhance within the coming weeks, extra questions on his knee are more likely to come up.