The best word to describe the two offenses in the Buccaneers-Jets tilt at MetLife Stadium on Sunday is offensive.
The Buccaneers lead 14-12 after a half that featured a lot of turnovers, penalties and assorted other miscues that made lovers of offensive football wince regularly. The Jets closed within two with 34 seconds to play in the half on the first touchdown pass of Geno Smith’s career. It was a seven-yard toss to Kellen Winslow, who had an 18-yard catch to set it up on the previous play.
Those two throws represent some of the best of what Smith has done in his first NFL start. The other column has plenty of representation, however. Smith was intercepted on an overthrown pass, stripped on a sack at his own five-yard line and took an 18-yard loss on another sack when he kept dropping back with nowhere to go. He’s 12-of-20 for 120 yards overall.
His receiving corps has taken a pair of hits after tight end Jeff Cumberland and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley took a pair of hits to the head from safety Dashon Goldson.
Josh Freeman followed Smith’s interception with a horrid throw of his own that was picked off by Dawan Landry. Freeman had pretty much settled down after a rough start to the game at that point, but the interception opened the door back up for the Jets.
There have been 13 accepted penalties for 102 yards between the two teams, slowing whatever momentum either team has been able to get on offense more often than not. It all adds up to a game that looks like it could be decided by which team makes the last big mistake.