CINCINNATI — It was a gut-wrenching week for New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields, who virtually misplaced his job and was publicly criticized by crew proprietor Woody Johnson. At one level through the week, Fields was in his closet at dwelling, on the bottom, sobbing.
The tears virtually occurred once more Sunday after the Jets’ first win of the season, 39-38 over the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium — one of many largest comebacks in franchise historical past.
“It has been lots for me, emotionally, spiritually,” Fields mentioned. “After I was on the sector, I used to be rattling close to about to begin crying.”
Fields gave a clinic on how an embattled athlete ought to deal with adversity. Rebounding from two dismal performances, he accomplished 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards and a landing, rallying the Jets from a 15-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter. He additionally ran for a 2-point conversion and made a superb, falling-down throw to Isaiah Davis on one other 2-point play.
Thanks largely to Fields and Breece Corridor, who ran for 2 touchdowns and threw the profitable TD cross on a halfback choice, the Jets (1-7) received a sport that appeared unwinnable.
Afterward, Fields acquired reward from all corners of the locker room.
“It appeared just like the world was sort of crashing in round him, and he simply went on the market with soccer in his thoughts, locked in, performed a hell of a sport and led us to the win,” Jets security Isaiah Oliver mentioned. “He was vocal on the sideline all week throughout follow. None of that modified who he was.”
Fields was benched at halftime final Sunday and spent the week in limbo, not understanding if he had been demoted. Coach Aaron Glenn performed it near the vest. He gave the impression to be leaning towards a quarterback change, however any plan of a possible swap was aborted Saturday when Tyrod Taylor was dominated out due to a bone bruise in his knee. He “simply wasn’t snug,” Glenn mentioned of Taylor.
So, Glenn caught with Fields, whose identify was dragged by headlines Tuesday when Johnson basically blamed him for the 0-7 begin. Johnson mentioned, “If we are able to simply full a cross, it will look good.”
Fields dismissed the criticism Wednesday. After Sunday’s sport, he opened up, saying at one level, “I will get fairly weak proper right here.” His voice cracked a few occasions.
He shared the anecdote about crying within the closet. The deeply non secular Fields talked about the stress of the season and the “ups and downs” of the job however mentioned his tears weren’t brought on by the hardships of the week.
“It was nothing [that] needed to do with soccer,” he mentioned. “Soccer is soccer, but it surely was a lot extra simply concerning the journey and about how we bought thus far and simply dealing with adversity and preventing by adversity.”
Undaunted, Fields lived the dream of each worker — making his boss remorse his phrases. He insisted there was no redemptive enjoyment.
“I get that he is the proprietor of the crew, however that is exterior noise,” Fields mentioned. “The largest factor was my teammates nonetheless believing in me, my coaches nonetheless believing in me, and God.”
It seemed bleak for Fields & Co. after Samaje Perine scored on a 34-yard run to place the Bengals (3-5) forward 31-16. Then, Corridor (18 carries for 133 yards) took over within the fourth quarter, scoring on runs of 5 and 27 yards and throwing a 4-yard scoring cross to rookie tight finish Mason Taylor with 1:54 left within the sport.
Corridor’s play was solely the fourth profitable landing cross by a non-quarterback within the ultimate two minutes of the fourth quarter or time beyond regulation since 1950. One other Jets operating again, Corridor of Famer Curtis Martin, did it in 2000.
“I noticed the defender together with his again turned to me, so I mentioned, ‘I will throw it as much as Mason and see if he goes and will get it,'” Corridor mentioned. “I did not know he scored, however I turned and checked out all of the Bengals followers and so they have been silent, me.”
Referring to offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, Corridor mentioned, “I used to be like, ‘Tanner’s bought to have some balls to name this one.'”
Corridor admitted he was “sort of annoyed” by his seven-game landing drought, the longest of his profession. On Saturday, he mentioned he informed the coaches, “I would like the ball this week.” With out broad receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) within the lineup, Corridor mentioned he wanted 20 to 25 touches for the crew to win.
He completed with 21, counting his cross, because the Jets rushed for 254 yards — their most since 2021. The Jets, who had just one landing of their earlier 12 quarters, erupted for 3 within the fourth to tug out the win.
Within the raucous postgame locker room, Glenn acquired the sport ball from vice chairman Christopher Johnson, Woody Johnson’s youthful brother. Glenn credited his gamers and coaches. And, after all, his quarterback.
“He is primed to have the ability to deal with conditions like this,” Glenn mentioned. “It is so unfair to him, it truly is, that he will get criticized a lot. … I might say that a few of it is unwarranted, however we perceive. Loads of that goes with 0-7. He is an ideal particular person to have the ability to deal with the whole lot that is been thrown at him. He is a particular particular person.”