Maybe there was indeed an angel on the gridiron for the Jets on Sunday.
On the day, Jets Hall of Famer Nick Mangold passed away after a battle with kidney disease, his old team, the Jets found a way, through grit and determination to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 39-38 in a wild day in Cincy, Sunday.
Jets trailed by 15 points, 31-16 heading into the fourth quarter, before Justin Fields, who spent the week fielding questions about Owner Woody Jonshon's disrespectful comments about the quarterback, put on one of the best games of his career.
Fields completed 21 of 32 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown; he even ran in for a two-point conversion, and totaled 31-yards rushing on the ground. It was a huge moment for the Jets quarterback, who not only had to deal with critics, from the fans to ownership, but was reportedly crying on the floor of his closet, praying for a win, and turnaround. He got it, and so did the Jets.
While he won't admit it, let's be fair Johnson's unfair and unforgivable criticism of Fields as a reason for the Jets 0-7 start would get to any man, and one can't blame Fields if he were angry in private. He came to the Jets with the hope of reviving his career, and become a franchise quarterback. It hasn't worked out thus far, but the man put his team on his back on Sunday. Kudos to him.
And what a day for another embattled Jet: Breece Hall. Hall, who has been the subject of trade rumors, ran for 133 yards, scored two touchdowns, and threw the game winning score with 1:54 to go on a halfback option play, where he tossed the ball into the back of the end zone and into the hands of tight end Mason Taylor.
And, then there is the coach: Aaron Glenn. Glenn has been in the crosshairs of the fanbase and the media since day 1. Nobody has given this man a fair shake with talking heads galore calling for his ouster. Instead Glenn trusted his instincts. He went for two -- twice -- and won it both times, including winning a challenge on the second two point conversion where Taylor caught the ball at the goal line and fell forward at the one.
Glenn is also the one who gave Fields another shot, after a horrible week with everything bearing down on him. That is the sign of true leadership.
Perhaps things are turning around. Maybe not at the speed some would like, but Sunday's victory was huge for the Jets. Huge from the standpoint that they finally established a 'never say die' attitude. Wins build culture. Adversity builds character.
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