Early in their Week 8 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, it looked like the Jets were on their way to a blowout loss. With just under five and a half minutes to go in the second quarter, Cincinnati led 17-3. The Jets faced a fourth and two on the Bengals 15.
What followed was a play that put the Jets back in the game and provided perhaps the first sign of life for the offense in weeks.
As we start the play, the Jets get Mason Taylor moving in motion from left to right across the offensive formation.
He’s followed by a defender, number 29 Cam Taylor-Britt. A defender following a motion receiver across the field is a strong piece of evidence the defense will be playing man coverage.
The way the protection is drawn up seems to have Armand Membou and Joe Tippmann on the right side one on one against the defensive linemen aligned against them. On the left side, Josh Myers, John Simpson, and Olu Fashanu are working together against the two defensive lineman and number 44, Demetrius Knight Jr. who the Jets seemingly deem the most likely fifth rusher.
Breece Hall seems to have number 22 Geno Stone if he comes on a blitz.
What this means is that if Stone blitzes, there will be nobody to pick up a blitzer on the other side. That guy will be Fields’ responsibility to beat either with a throw before he arrives or by using his legs to run away.
That’s exactly what happens. Stone blitzes. He is Hall’s man. Here you see Jeremy Ruckert give a chip, but that is just to give Breece a hand. Taylor is going into his route, and Hall will be responsible for stone.
From the other side, previously unpictured safety, number 27 Jordan Battle is blitzing.
So we have a guy bearing down on Fields.
The good news is you know you’ve got man coverage. Again, the presnap motion was part of putting that puzzle together. Tyler Johnson does a nice job stemming his route to sell like he’s breaking inside. He’s really running a corner route, and number 23 Daxton Hill has no help to the outside.
Fields lets it rip with a free blitzer in his face.
This is a very confident throw. Johnson hasn’t made his break yet so Fields is throwing with anticipation, which is normally not a strength of his. On top of this, Justin is going for the end zone. I’m pretty sure Mason Taylor is running the hot route Fields can go to if under duress, and Taylor is open for what should be a chain moving first down.
Fields just seems to be feeling it, though, and lets it fly to Johnson, putting a ball on the money.
This is just a tremendous job by Justin Fields. You don’t execute on a level like this unless you are playing confidently and decisively. I really don’t know how the quarterback who was too hesitant to throw the ball the previous two weeks came out and got this decisive, but you could see how it changed the fortunes of the Jets offense.
