New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields has earned some harsh criticism for his play this season, maybe none harsher from inside his group.
However with Tyrod Taylor (knee) officially out for Week 8 in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4), the 2021 first-round choose will get an opportunity to silence his loudest critics.
Justin Fields has massive alternative in opposition to Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8
For the previous two
weeks, Fields has been among the many league’s worst quarterbacks. Earlier than being benched at halftime of final Sunday’s 13-6 loss to the Carolina Panthers (4-3), Fields was 15-of-29 for 91 yards (3.1 yards per try) whereas shedding 76 yards on 12 sacks for the reason that begin of Week 6.
Together with his dashing totals, Fields accounted for 68 web yards on 52 performs. Amongst 31 quarterbacks with not less than 30 performs from Weeks 6-7, Fields ranked final in anticipated factors added (EPA) per play (-0.0562), through Rbsdm.com.
His play has considerably dipped after a promising begin to the season. Throughout his first 4 begins, which included a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Payments (4-2) when a concussion restricted him to 29 snaps, Fields accomplished 67 p.c of his cross makes an attempt for 754 yards (7.1 yards per try) and 7 complete touchdowns.
The Bengals current a superb alternative for Fields to get again on observe. Cincinnati’s protection has picked up the place it left off final season regardless of swapping out defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who is prospering with the Indianapolis Colts, for former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden.
Cincinnati ranks second-last within the league in scoring and complete protection, permitting 30.6 factors and 394.4 yards per sport. It has the fifth-lowest strain price (16.9 p.c), per Pro Football Reference data, whereas solely recording 11 sacks. The Bengals even have an NFL-high 81 missed tackles, 25 greater than the next-closest groups (Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders).
If Fields cannot have success in opposition to a hapless Bengals protection, then it may very well be formally time to deem the experiment a failure.
Johnson seems to have already thrown within the towel. Earlier this week, the Jets owner backed head coach Aaron Glenn, who remains to be in search of his first win, whereas throwing Fields beneath the bus, telling reporters, “It is laborious when you will have a quarterback with a score that he is acquired. I imply, he has capacity, however one thing simply is just not jiving.
“The offensive is just not clicking, and you may’t run the ball if you cannot cross the ball. That is soccer 101,” Johnson added, through ESPN.
The previous two weeks have put a big dent within the considered Fields being a everlasting resolution for the Jets (0-7) at quarterback. Sunday may very well be his final likelihood to alter minds.
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