Super De-mario
LB Davis dominates Miami
The Jets linebackers had a rough start to the season, but Demario Davis played the game of his life Sunday.
The veteran inside linebacker had 12 tackles, three tackles for a loss. According to Pro Football Focus, he was targeted seven times, but only gave up 18 yards on six catches.
“It was great to see him command the defense and still make plays,” Jets coach Todd Bowles said. “He was thinking a little bit too much earlier in the year, but now he’s playing faster and it’s coming easy for him. He did a good job today.”
Davis was all over the field and did not allow any Dolphins to gain extra yards. He seemed to always be around the ball and in perfect position to stop Jay Ajayi or Jarvis Landry from gaining extra yards.
“Every week you’re going to have guys that you have to stop,” Davis said. “This week Ajayi, Landry, those were guys you’ve got to stop. Every week there’s going to be certain guys you have to take out of the game or contain. We were able to do that just through execution.”
The Jets had 10 penalties, none bigger than a holding call on center Wes Johnson that erased a 55-yard run by
Bilal Powell late in the second quarter. It looked like a bad call and the Jets offensive line was incensed.
“I had five guys madder than all get at,” quarterback Josh McCown said. “They played it so quick that they didn’t see how it could be a penalty.”
McCown said it is usually just one guy he has to calm down, but this was all five linemen.
“I’m like, ‘Guys, c’mon, let’s come back, we’re going to get them the next play,’ ” McCown said. “That’s the mentality you have to have. It’s a next-play mentality, next-game mentality in this league.”
The next play was a 69-yard McCown touchdown pass to Robby Anderson.
“Those are the little things when you’re a young team, young unit coming together,” McCown said. “Those are kind of bricks in the process that you stack because it grows you. That was a good moment for us because we’re learning, hey you have to flush that last play good or bad and move on.” The Jets held the Dolphins to 49 total yards in the first half, the fewest they have held an opponent to since Dec. 11, 2011, when they held the Chiefs to 4 yards. … Bowles made one lineup change, playing Darryl Roberts at cornerback instead of Juston Burris. ... Ndamukong Suh had four tackles and no quarterback hits despite facing Jets backup guard Dakota Dozier for much of the day. ... RB Matt Forte (toe), LB Josh Martin (ankle) and WR Charone Peake (ankle) all needed X-rays after the game. The extent of their injuries was unknown.