MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The New York Jets stock watch, examining the risers and fallers from Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Miami Dolphins (pre-film review):
FOUR FALLERS
CB Buster Skrine -- Let's not try to sugarcoat it: It was a terrible game. The oft-penalized Skrine was flagged a team-high three times, including two holding calls on one drive in the fourth quarter. He also allowed two touchdown passes. The Jets moved him around, perhaps hoping to hide him, but it was no use. Coach Todd Bowles said he never considered benching him, maybe because their backup slot corner -- rookie Xavier Coleman -- was out with a shoulder injury. Chances are, he would've stuck with Skrine anyway. Afterward, Bowles went easy on him, saying he needed to watch the film before assessing Skrine's performance -- a cop out.
QB Josh McCown -- He threw only one bad ball all day, but it came at the worst possible time -- at his own 15, with 47 seconds left in the game (at the start of the play). Facing eight men in coverage, McCown -- under some pressure -- threw off his back foot to the sideline. The Dolphins had Jermaine Kearse covered with a high-low zone. It was an awful decision and McCown knew it. He said he tried to stop his throw, but it was it too late and that's why the ball floated on him. It was his seventh and costliest interception of the season, and he felt "sick" about it. Too bad because he played a wonderful game to that point.
WR Robby Anderson -- He needs to grow up. His display of petulance near the end of the game -- he spiked his helmet on the field -- was inexcusable. "Just frustration, you know," Anderson said. "I'm very passionate about this and I love this game. It hurts losing." He received no rebuke from Bowles, who said he didn't see the play. For the record, Bowles said he doesn't condone that kind of behavior. It was a wild day of emotion for Anderson, who celebrated an 18-yard touchdown reception by jumping into the end-zone seats and sitting in a big, comfy chair.
Offensive line -- It was a mess in the second half, as four of the five linemen were called for penalties -- Brian Winters (holding), Wesley Johnson (unnecessary roughness), James Carpenter (false start) and Brent Qvale (false start and holding). Qvale played right tackle when Brandon Shell left with a neck injury and he had a hard time with defensive end Cameron Wake (2.5 sacks). McCown was pressured on 45 percent of his dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus. Not good.
FOUR RISERS
S Jamal Adams/Marcus Maye -- The two rookies were outstanding; maybe some of the veterans can learn from them. Deployed mostly as a "box" safety, Adams recorded a sack and tipped a pass that was intercepted near the Miami goal line. He was all over the field. Maye, playing in the deep middle, recorded his second interception and was excellent in coverage.
DE Muhammad Wilkerson -- He didn't record a sack -- the sack slump lives for the defensive line -- but he was active throughout the game. He chased down a play downfield, recorded his first quarterback hit and intercepted the ball that was deflected by Adams. Afterward, Wilkerson tried to rally his team in the locker room. Wilkerson explained, “I said every man, including myself, we’ve all got to look at ourselves in the mirror and figure out what type of team, what type of player we want to be. Do we want to finish guys when we’re up or do we want to be complacent and let games slip away like this?”
RB Matt Forte -- He finished with 82 yards from scrimmage, showing incredible determination. Forte broke nine tackles on his 12 touches, per PFF, gaining an average of 4.7 yards after contact per attempt. Some people want to write him off, but he still has value to the team.