The Jets took a step in the right direction Sunday, halting a four-game losing streak with a 24-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens at MetLife Stadium.
"I don't think it's relief. I think it's frustration. We're 2-5," said head coach Todd Bowles. "We have to be able to get better. We can't change the past, but we have something to do about the future. That's what we're going to work on."
The immediate future is the Cleveland Browns. The Green & White will meet today, correct their mistakes and get ready for a desperate Browns club.
"I never lost hope. We're getting better one game at a time," Bowles said. "We got this one and have to get ready for the next one."
Each week here on NewYorkJets.com, we highlight one player — win or lose — from each positional group who rose to the occasion.
Defense: Sheldon RichardsonWithout veteran DE Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle) in the lineup and playing with a heavy heart, Richardson slid back inside and responded with his most dominant effort of the 2016 season. Telling reporters that his uncle was murdered Tuesday, Richardson said his fallen relative got the Jets through their second win. Richardson was unlockable, tallying eight tackles with three TFL along with his first full sack of the season. He was a key cog on a unit that allowed a franchise-low six yards rushing in the victory.
"Ya'll must have forgot," Richardson said in the home locker room. "I made the Pro Bowl the year I played three-technique cause a lot more havoc when I'm closer to the ball. But the way this team is set up, potential-wise, I've got to play outside linebacker. We had a guy down today, so I just picked up the slack."
Offense: Matt ForteAgainst what was the NFL's No.1 ranked rush defense, Forté totaled 100 yards on 30 carries. Forté, who also added 54 yards on his four receptions, had a season-long 31-yard reception in the third quarter. He became just the fifth player in NFL history to eclipse 8,000 rush yards, 4,000 yards receiving and 20 receiving TDs on a 13-yard scoring pass from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. His one-yard rush TD late in the third marked the fourth time of Forté's career that he's recorded both a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.
"Whether it's running or catching the ball, it doesn't matter if I get 30, 25, 20 (touches) or whatever it is or however it shakes out," he said. "I'm just trying to get positive yards, keep the chains moving, score touchdowns so we can score points and let our defense do what they do."
Special Teams: Charone PeakeAlthough there were a couple of miscues, the rookie wideout continues to impress on punt coverage. After a 52-yard Lachlan Edwards boot in the fourth quarter, Peake and veteran Josh Martin converged on Ravens return man Devin Hester Sr. as the latter gained no positive yardage. Hester averaged just three yards on his three punt returns.
