The bye week did not slow down Robby Anderson. The Jets' emerging second-year wideout tormented the Panthers' secondary Sunday with a dazzling performance, recording the first multi-touchdown game of his career and a personnel best 146 yards receiving.
Anderson kept his scoring streak going late in the first half, hauling in a TD in a fifth consecutive contest. With the Jets trailing 12-3 and in need of some momentum, Josh McCown had the confidence in Anderson to give him a chance against double coverage. Corner James Bradberry looked to be in good position with veteran safety Mike Adams closing in, but Anderson found enough separation to find the ball and made a stunning grab before tumbling out of bounds.
Then past the midway point of the third stanza, Anderson gave the Jets a lead. McCown eluded pressure up the home sideline and Anderson got lost down the field by the boundary. With plenty of room in front of him, McCown directed Anderson up the field and the speedster responded. The ball was on the money and the 54-yard scoring completion gave the Green & White a 17-12 advantage.
"I was expecting him to throw a toe-tap, but he directed me up the sideline. So that was all on him, just trusting in me and putting me in the best position to win." Anderson said.
"He has a lot of belief and confidence in himself and what he can do as a player," McCown said. "You feel that and I think everybody feels that. I certainly appreciate it, so it gives me confidence to put the ball around him and he'll go up and make plays."
Celebrating his second score, Anderson implored people to vote him to the Pro Bowl. But the rangy receiver said he was just living in the moment.
"I make my life decisions based off my teammates," he said. "Everything I do is about being the best I can for my teammates, so it wasn't anything malicious or anything like that or trying to come off in the wrong way. I was just excited in the moment."
Anderson, who had a 20-yard reception in the opening stanza and a 28-yarder in the fourth, has 16 catches of at least 20 yards this season. Since entering the league in 2016, the Temple product has amassed 19 receptions of over 25 yards. His work Sunday came against the NFL's fourth-ranked pass defense.
In addition to Anderson, veteran Jermain Kearse pitched in with seven catches and also crossed the century mark with 105 yards. His 3-yard TD in the fourth closed the gap to 32-27, but the Jets would get no closer and dropped to 4-7 overall. Anderson will take aim at Kansas City next week, a struggling Chiefs team who could activate former Jets CB Darrelle Revis for the first time.
