Grades from the Jets’ 21-12 season-opening loss to the Bills on Sunday:
Offense
They were who we thought they were. The offense dinked and dunked and struggled for long parts of the game, but they did reach the end zone once. They finished with 214 total yards, averaging a dismal 3.9 yards per play. QB Josh McCown (26-of-39, 187 yards, 2 INTs, 1 rushing TD) was his pedestrian self. The running game got nothing going (38 rushing yards). WR Jermaine Kearse (7 catches, 59 yards) played well in his Jets debut.
Grade: D
Defense
We expected the offense to be terrible, but the Jets defense? It was supposed to be the strength of the team. The unit gave up eight plays of 20 yards or more and let the Bills convert eight third downs. LeSean McCoy (22 rushes, 110 yards; 5 catches, 49 yards) ran wild. Every level of the defense had its issues.
Grade: D
Special teams
Chandler Catanzaro was the best weapon the Jets had Sunday. The kicker made field goals from 48 and 52 yards after winning the training-camp competition. Punter Lac Edwards averaged 49.5 yards per punt, giving the Jets good field position for most of the day. The coverage units were strong. Punt returner Kalif Raymond set the Jets up with great field position midway through the fourth quarter with a 25-yard return.
Grade: B
Coaching
Todd Bowles inexplicably punted with four minutes left in the game, trailing by two scores. It was a terrible decision by a coach who looked like he was coaching scared. The Jets had to do one thing defensively — stop McCoy — but the defense looked ill-prepared and repeatedly gave up contain. Offensive coordinator John Morton had some nice calls, but was not aggressive at all.
Grade: F