The Jets fell to the Steelers 19-6 on Sunday in an ugly game. It is not easy finding winners in this one, but here is my best shot – the Jets winners and losers from Sunday:
Winners
JEFF CUMBERLAND – With no Kellen Winslow for a while, the Jets are counting on Cumberland. He had a nice game with four catches for 59 yards, including a 29-yarder. He was only targeted five times by Geno Smith. Expect that number to rise this week.
GARRETT MCINTYRE – He returned to the starting lineup this week and made an impact. He had one sack and five tackles and played a solid game. It is interesting that he would start over Quinton Coples and play nearly as many snaps as him in the game.
MARTY LYONS – On an otherwise dismal day for Jets fans, Lyons gave them something to cheer about at halftime when he was inducted into the Ring of Honor. Lyons is one of the good guys and he deserved the recognition not just for his playing career but what he has done off the field.
Losers
ANTONIO CROMARTIE – The cornerback’s lost season continued with another poor performance against the Steelers. He gave up the 55-yard touchdown to Emmanuel Sanders, was flagged for pass interference and nearly gave up another touchdown. Cromartie is dealing with hip and knee injuries and that is the only explanation I see for how his play has dipped. The hip has been nagging him since training camp and it is clearly affecting him.
GENO SMITH – The rookie took the Jets out of the game with his third-quarter interception. He can say he was trying to throw it away, but it looked like he just panicked and chucked it up toward Konrad Reuland. Instead it found Steelers safety Ryan Clark. The Steelers did not blitz Smith a lot, but he seemed confused by their scheme.
QUINTON COPLES – He has had zero impact since returning from his ankle injury. He had no tackles against the Steelers and one quarterback hit. I’m not sure if the experiment of him playing outside linebacker will ever truly work. It might be time to scrap it and give him some more time playing inside where he showed he can be an effective pass rusher last year.