New York Jets: Report card grades vs. Cowboys in Week 6

The New York Jets looked like a different team with Sam Darnold back under center. Here we look at their report card after their 24-22 upset win over Dallas Sunday.

The New York Jets looked like a real football team with Sam Darnold returning. Gang Green recorded a much-needed 24-22 triumph over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Sunday’s Week 6 victory was the first for Adam Gase as head coach of the Jets (1-4) and will give Gang Green a huge morale boost moving forward. They needed a victory in the worst way.

With that being said, let’s finally look at a good report card for the green and white.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

Offense

So do you think Sam Darnold makes a difference?

Wow, this looked like a totally different team with the USC product under center. Darnold appeared in full command out there, connecting on 23 of 32 passes for 338 yards (the second most of his young career), two touchdowns and one interception.

His 92-yard bomb to Robby Anderson was the longest scoring play of the NFL season so far and gave New York a 14-3 lead in the second quarter. More importantly, it showed that Darnold was back after his bout with mononucleosis.

Anderson finished with a game-high 125 receiving yards on five receptions. No one missed Darnold more than the speedy Anderson. Now he has somebody who can actually get him the ball deep again.

Veteran wide receivers Jamison Crowder (6-98) and Demaryius Thomas (4-62) were both effective targets, especially in the middle of the field, as was tight end Ryan Griffin (3-28-1). Le’Veon Bell was held to 50 rushing yards and one catch but he did score on a two-yard burst.

Grade: B+

Defense

Pro Bowler Jamal Adams made the play of the game when he blitzed Dak Prescott and forced him to throw too early and incomplete on Dallas’ two-point conversion attempt with 43 seconds left in the game and the Jets hanging on to a 24-22 lead. Adams was all over the field, finishing with a team-high nine tackles (along with Brian Poole), including one for loss. The LSU product is the emotional leader of the defensive unit and his passion for the game just oozes everywhere. He is something else.

Jordan Jenkins had a huge sack of Prescott in the fourth quarter to force Dallas into a second and long scenario. The entire defense bent but did not break in a huge spot late in the game. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams deserves credit for some of his blitz packages in big spots as well.

Grade: B

Special Teams

Sam Ficken seems to be reliable as the Jets kicker. He booted a key 38-yard field late in the fourth stanza to give the Jets a 24-16 advantage. He connected on all three of his PATs. The Penn State product seems to be able to be trusted, at least for now.

Vyncint Smith, a real speed burner, had a 28-yard kickoff return but he’s capable of much more. Punter Lac Edwards averaged 45 yards on four boots including one inside the 20-yard line.

Grade: C+