nypost
Another week, another puzzling coaching decision for the New York Jets. In the first half of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, with the Jets trailing 14-7 and the Dolphins driving deep into Jets territory, head coach Aaron Glenn opted not to call any of his three timeouts. Miami capitalized, scoring a touchdown with just six seconds left in the half to take a 21-7 lead. The Jets entered halftime having preserved all their timeouts, a strategy that left many observers scratching their heads.
After the game, Glenn was asked about his timeout usage. His response was less than convincing. "Yeah, I think that's when [Miami] was all the way down in the red zone," Glenn said. But replays showed the Dolphins were at the Jets' 32-yard line at the two-minute warning and continued to move the ball without the Jets stopping the clock. "We felt like we were going to stop them," Glenn explained. "Maybe we should have called our timeouts to get it back. But at that point, we just felt like we were going to stop them and be able to get the ball back. You know, that's something that we should have done is use our timeouts."
Glenn's decision-making in close games has come under scrutiny. His record in one-score games now stands at 4-9, a concerning mark given that more than half of NFL games since 1999 have been decided by a touchdown or less. In a game where possessions are precious, failing to utilize timeouts to extend the half proved costly.
Quarterback Geno Smith put up impressive numbers—23 of 30 passing for 287 yards with three touchdowns and one interception—but his mistakes were pivotal. On the Jets' second series, Smith threw an interception directly to Dolphins safety Michael Taaffe inside the Miami 20-yard line, costing the Jets at least a field goal opportunity. It was Smith's second interception in as many games after going the first five weeks without one, despite leading the NFL with 17 interceptions last season. Later, with the Jets trailing 21-14, Smith took a 12-yard sack on third-and-goal from the Miami 3-yard line, forcing the Jets to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Jason Sanders.
Sanders, usually reliable, missed a 40-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter that hit the right upright after the Jets had driven to the Miami 22-yard line. Those missed opportunities loomed large in a game the Jets lost by three points.
Injury updates: Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell returned after missing four games with a finger injury but did not record a catch. Running back Breece Hall, who practiced last week, was inactive due to a thigh injury. Guard Dylan Parham (knee) also did not play. Other inactives included cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr., tackle Max Mitchell, edge rusher Joseph Ossai, kick returner Kene Nwangwu, and defensive lineman Jack Heflin. Brownlee being a healthy scratch was surprising given his significant playing time.
Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of former Jets center and Ring of Honor member Nick Mangold, who died at age 41 from complications of kidney failure last October 25.
Key Analysis
Glenn's timeout management and his ambiguous explanation have intensified questions about his in-game decision-making. With a 4-9 record in one-score games, the Jets' inability to close out tight contests is a growing concern. Smith's turnovers and the missed field goal further underscored the team's struggles in critical moments. As the season progresses, Glenn and his staff will need to demonstrate greater situational awareness to turn these narrow losses into victories.
Originally reported by nypost.