JET REPORT CARD
QUARTERBACKS: B+
Vinny Testaverde (20-of-34, 215 yards, 2 TDs, INT) was sharp on a sloppy day when being sharp was very difficult. His TD passes were in spots where they absolutely had to be to be completed. His INT was batted at the line of scrimmage, falling into the arms of a defensive lineman.
RUNNING BACKS: B
Courageous job by Curtis Martin (17-29 rushing) and strong job despite stats by Bernie Parmalee (10-26). Runs of 18 and 12 yards led to the Jets’ second TD. Parmalee also caught six passes for 48 yards. Richie Anderson was again terrific, catching six passes for 69 yards and a TD.
WIDE RECEIVERS: C+
Dedric Ward (6-93) led the way, making some clutch catches on a wet soggy day with a slippery football. Wayne Chrebet had one catch for eight yards. Windrell Hayes was held catchless.
TIGHT ENDS: B
Anthony Becht made a marvelous diving TD catch, more evidence that he might be a receiving force before long.
OFFENSIVE LINE: C
Pass blocking, as usual, was terrific, but run blocking was spotty. While trying to close out the Bears in the second half, the Jets rushed for all of three yards on 15 carries, an alarming number. There were some big blocks by the likes of RG Randy Thomas, RT Ryan Young and C Kevin Mawae.
DEFENSIVE LINE: B
DT Ernie Logan had his second forced fumble in as many weeks and four tackles. DE Shane Burton had a career-high three batted passes, including the game-clincher on the Bears’ final offensive play. Rick Lyle had four tackles.
LINEBACKERS: B
Marvin Jones again led the way with nine tackles, seven of them solo. Roman Phifer had a forced fumble and seven tackles, while Bryan Cox had two tackles and a batted pass. Some points are taken away because Bears RB James Allen rushed for 122 yards.
SECONDARY: A
Great collective job on Bears WR Marcus Robinson, who entered the game as Chicago’s biggest big-play threat. CB Marcus Coleman covered Robinson a bit, though he had help in some doubling and zones. Robinson was held to only a catch for minus-3 yards. SS Victor Green had seven tackles and a fumble recovery. FS Chris Hayes played solidly again, with four tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C-
Up and down. The good was Hayes downing a Tom Tupa punt at the Chicago 4-yard line in the fourth quarter, Dwight Stone making his season-long 43-yard KO return and Dwayne Gordon making a couple of tackles on kick coverage. The problems occurred in the Bears’ 15-yard average on punt returns and a 30-yard average on KO returns by Glyn Milburn.
KICKING GAME: B
Tough day to kick. Tom Tupa averaged 40 yards on seven punts, but had three inside the 20. That was good for five yards per punt better than Bears’ Louie Aguiar. K John Hall was 1-for-2 on FGs, with a successful 20-yarder and a missed 46-yarder wide right. Hall, who had a couple of special-teams tackles, did have a touchback on KOs.
COACHING: A
Al Groh kept his players’ eyes on the prize and it seemed they heeded his warning that Chicago could pose problems. Specifically, the Jets excelled in a couple of areas the coaches worked hard on with players all week: stopping the Bears’ screen plays, batting down Shane Matthews’ quick passes and going after James Allen’s ailing right hand.