Studs and Duds from Jets loss in Week 3 to Bengals

The emotional high the Jets were on after coming back to beat the Browns in Week 2 quickly turned back into rock bottom as the Jets looked completely flat in a 27-12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, dropping the Jets to 1-2 on the year. Let’s check out some studs and duds from this one.

Stud – Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins

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At least the Jets had some highlights on the defensive line. Williams and Rankins each came up with a sack of Joe Burrow and were key in keeping the Bengals’ rushing attack in check. Cincinnati had just 69 rushing yards on 28 carries (12 carries, 24 yards for Joe Mixon).

Williams also led the defense with three of the Jets’ nine hits of Burrow, while also adding a tackle for a loss and recording four tackles total. Rankins had a hit on Burrow, a tackle for a loss and seven total tackles.

Dud – The rest of the defensive line

Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins did their part in trying to create a pass rush. Unfortunately, the rest of the defensive linemen didn’t do their part. Those two sacks from Williams and Rankins were the only sacks of Burrow, a quarterback that had been sacked 13 times through the first two games of the season.

Carl Lawson was the only other lineman to record a hit of Burrow, getting two hits. The other Jets to get a hit were Lamarcus Joyner (2) and Quincy Williams (1).

The Jets stressed pass rush all week, really feeling like they needed to get that going and that this would be the week it would finally start to come together. It didn’t and Burrow threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns as a result.

Stud – D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner

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Another week, another solid combined force from Reed and Gardner. Gardner went toe-to-toe with Ja’Marr Chase and made some excellent plays against him and went on to record two pass-breakups, which led the Jets on Sunday. Reed also had a PBU of his own.

Dud – Lamarcus Joyner and Jordan Whitehead

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Joyner had a nice stop on the early trick play by the Bengals, but overall, it was another forgettable performance from the Jets’ safeties. Especially Whitehead, who missed a sure tackle of Tyler Boyd that led to him racing 56 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter. The…