How do you lose this game? The New York Jets hosted an 0-5 Miami Dolphins team, maybe the worst team in the NFL, in a divisional game they absolutely had to win. They lost it. That is inexcusable for head coach Aaron Glenn and a Jets team that badly needed something to feel good about.

A few players stood out in a positive way on Sunday, and every one of them came on offense. But there are some big losers in this one, and it starts at the top.

Winners

RB Braelon Allen

Braelon Allen put together another strong rushing performance, finishing with 104 yards on 17 carries. That’s roughly 6 yards a carry, and the run game really got going in the second half. The offensive line got a good push up front, and Allen continued to show he’s tough to bring down.

Look, if New York is going to find any consistency on offense, Allen should be a big part of it.

WR Omar Cooper Jr.

The rookie had some explosive plays, finishing with 115 yards and a touchdown. Cooper gave the Jets the kind of big-play threat they’ve been missing, and Frank Reich found some creative ways to get him the ball. In really the two full games that Cooper Jr. has played in, he’s put up over 100 yards, which is great to see. 

TE Mason Taylor

Of course it was Mason Taylor on National Tight Ends Day. He caught five passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns, and both scores came from him going up and simply winning over Dolphins defenders in the air. It may have been his best game as a Jet.

Taylor was crucial in the red zone, where New York struggled for much of the afternoon. Without him, those trips inside the 20 look a whole lot uglier.

Losers

HC Aaron Glenn

This is the easiest one. Glenn needed this game to give the team and the fan base some hope, some optimism, anything. A home divisional game against a winless Miami team is a game you have to win, and the Jets failed to get it done. That falls directly on the head coach.

After the Titans game, I thought Glenn might have bought himself a little more time. After this loss to the Dolphins, I don’t think his time in New York will last much longer.

OC Frank Reich

The struggles we’ve seen from Reich’s play-calling continued. Shotgun runs in short-yardage situations are perplexing, and the red zone issues popped up again. If Taylor doesn’t make a couple of incredible plays, the Jets squander nearly every red zone trip in this game.

I’ve been fairly disappointed with Reich lately, and this game didn’t change that.

WR Garrett Wilson 

This one isn’t entirely on Garrett Wilson, his quarterback has to throw him the football. Regardless, Wilson finished with two catches for 26 yards on just three targets. That can’t happen.

Wilson looked visibly frustrated with Smith and the staff on the sideline, and that’s understandable. The Jets are not going to win football games if they can’t get their best receiver going. It’s that simple. We’ve now seen it in back to back games and it must change.

QB Geno Smith

The stat sheet is going to deceive you after this performance as Geno was able to throw for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Smith appeared to miss a good bit of open reads throughout the game and passed up on some opportunities. Like I stated earlier, he can thank Mason Taylor for a lot of his statistical production today with the two red zone scores. 

K Jason Sanders

Jason Sanders missed a 40-yard kick off the upright. It was not a kick that would’ve tied the game at the time, but was one that would have tied the game at the end and sent it to overtime. Now, Sanders has kicked very well this season. It was only his second miss of the year. Unfortunately, it came at the worst possible time.

WR AD Mitchell

AD Mitchell was finally back in the lineup, and I understand there’s some rust to shake off as he works his way back. Still, he was targeted three times and finished without a catch. Mitchell has to be more of a production point for this offense.

What’s next for the Jets

Allen, Cooper, and Taylor gave the Jets a real foundation to build on offensively. That’s the good news.

The bad news is everything else. Per usual, the Jets found a way to lose a game they had no business losing, and it puts Glenn squarely on the hot seat. If the coaching staff can’t fix the red zone issues and get Wilson involved, losses like this one are going to keep piling up, and Glenn won’t be around much longer to see the turnaround.