Scoring points has been a problem for the New York Jets all season. They entered Thursday’s game at the New England Patriots averaging just 21.7 points per game, a mark that left them 25th in the NFL.
Scoring points early in games has been an even bigger problem.
They finally solved that on their opening drive on Thursday.
The Jets opened Thursday’s game with a methodical 14-play, 72-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a Justin Fields touchdown run.
Justin Wheels at it again #NYJvsNE on PRIME pic.twitter.com/N1VIjTKC4k
— New York Jets (@nyjets)
That was a significant play and drive. Not only because it produced a touchdown and an early lead, but also because it was the Jets’ first opening drive touchdown since Week 16 of the 2024 season.
That snapped a streak of 11 consecutive games without scoring an opening-drive touchdown.
It is tough to win football games when you are constantly playing from behind, and when you go that many games without an opening drive score, that is probably what you are going to be doing.
What made Thursday’s opening drive even more impressive is they did it without the services of their best playmaker on offense, wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
It was a very run-heavy drive that saw quarterback Fields make some plays with his feet, which is what they need to see more of given their struggles passing the football.
While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans knew right offensive tackle Luke Goedeke would eventually return this season, what they didn’t know for sure was
One thing no one knew about Goedeke was the actual extent of his injuries — it was always just characterized as a “foot” injury — but the man himself tuned everyone in to exactly how bad it was during Thursday’s media session.
“Bucs RT Luke Goedeke said he tore his plantar fascia and had a contusion to recover from since Week 2,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account on November 13. “He is thrilled to be back.”
Now, with Goedeke finally back in the lineup fir a Week 10 loss to the New England Patriots, it’s only going to get better for both Goedeke and Tampa Bay’s offense the more he’s in the lineup. He gets another chance when the NFC South first place Buccaneers travel to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, where Goedeke will get to square off with edge rusher Joey Bosa.
The Patriots game was the first tine this season the Buccaneers had their high priced offensive tackles together — left offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs missed the first 3 games as he recovered from preseason knee surgery.
“I came in day in and day out (to rehab) to try and get back as soon as possible,” Goedeke said in a video posted to X by Pewter Report. “I wasn’t the most pleasant at times to be around … football is what my life revolves around. I make sacrifices training in the offseason to be in the very best physical shape I can be in, so to have that taken away from you is very frustrating.”
The Buccaneers have been missing large chunks of their offense all season. That’s meant little familiarity and little getting a feel for each other, because it’s always different people in the lineup.
The Buccaneers saw an immediate uptick in their run game against the Patriots with Goedeke back in the lineup and rushed for 113 yards — their highest total since running for 122 yards in a Week 3 win over the New York Jets.
“Luke Goedeke immediately shuts down the notion that he’s the only reason the run game bounced back,” Bucs Gameday’s River Wells posted on X on November 13. “He says all 11 players did good work to get the run game going against the Patriots.”
This offseason, for the second year in a row, the Buccaneers delivered a massive payday to one of their elite offensive linemen.
“The #Bucs have agreed to terms with their standout OT Luke Goedeke, as he gets a 4-year, $90M deal — $22.5M APY — that includes $50M guaranteed,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on September 2. “Tampa Bay locks up another key O-lineman.”
Tampa Bay signed NFL All-Pro left offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs to a 4-year, $140.6 million contract extension in August 2024, which remains the largest contract for an offensive lineman in NFL history.