White, Berrios both take blame for missed TD pass
MINNEAPOLIS — A win slipped right through the Jets’ hands on Sunday — or more specifically, through Braxton Berrios’ hands.
The usually sure-handed wideout could not pull in Mike White’s fourth-and-goal pass from the Minnesota 1-yard line for what would have been the goahead touchdown with 1:43 remaining in the game. Instead, the ball fell to the turf as Berrios tried to pull it in and the Jets lost, 27-22 to the Vikings.
“He put the ball there,” Berrios said. “I’ve got to make that play.”
The Jets got one more shot at scoring a game-winning touchdown, but the chance they will look back on and regret blowing is that 1-yard pass to Berrios. White credited Berrios with altering his route on the play when he recognized a hole in the Minnesota defense. The quarterback also blamed himself for not putting the throw out in front of Berrios.
“I gotta figure out how to put that ball a tad more in front of him and let him securely make the catch instead of making a tough catch,” White said.
Berrios dismissed the idea that White was at fault.
“That’s not on him. That’s on me,” Berrios said. “It’s fourth down. He has everything in his face, the rush coming. He’s seeing bodies flying everywhere. He put it where I should have got it. That one’s on me.”
➤ The Jets did a pretty good job against Vikings star WR Justin Jefferson, but they could not hold him down all day. Jefferson finished with seven catches for 45 yards and one touchdown on 11 targets. The Jets used a variety of defensive backs on the third-year star, but D.J. Reed got the most time against him.
Reed, who said he woke up with fluid in his chest and was taking oxygen all game, gave up the touchdown to Jefferson on a 10-yard pass with 8:43 left to play.
“I was in his s--t all game,” Reed said. “He got that one route me, so I’m frustrated. I felt like I did a great job containing him. It’s just frustrating because I don’t want to give up a touchdown. I don’t want to be the reason why my team loses.”
➤ The Jets benched RT Max Mitchell in the second quarter and replaced him with George Fant, who was activated off injured reserve on Saturday.
“Felt like he was struggling a little bit,” head coach Robert Saleh said of Mitchell. “So just trying to get George out there.”
Fant was called for a killer penalty in the third quarter when he committed a block in the back, which moved the Jets from the Vikings’ 6-yard line back to the 16. They ended up kicking a field goal.
➤ RB Michael Carter was inactive with an ankle injury. Rookie Zonovan Knight made his first NFL start in Carter’s place. He rushed 15 times for 90 yards and added five catches for 28 yards.