Jets report card: Score one for Adam Gase

Grading the Jets following Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Rams.

Offense

The Jets were not an unstoppable force by any means, but they did enough to win, gaining 289 yards against the NFL’s No. 1 defense. QB Sam Darnold (22 of 31, 207 yards, 1 TD, 99.8 rating) played his best game of the season. He was efficient and did not turn the ball over. RB Frank Gore (23 rushes, 59 yards, 1 TD, 1 catch, 6 yards) came up with some huge plays down the stretch, including the game-clinching first down.

Grade: B

Defense

Interim defensive coordinator Frank Bush’s unit set the tone for the game by forcing two three-and-outs to start the game. Rookie Bryce Hall notched his first interception and the Jets did a good job limiting big plays and making tackles, especially early in the game. Rams QB Jared Goff (22 of 34, 209 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 89.0 rating) looked uncomfortable for large portions of the game. Jets safety Marcus Maye made the play of the day, breaking up Goff’s fourth-down pass to stop the Rams late.

Grade: A

Special Teams

J.T. Hassell got a huge punt block in the first half to set up a Jets field goal. Punter Braden Mann did his best work on a game-saving tackle in the fourth quarter. Kicker Sam Ficken returned and booted three field goals. Other than the long punt return they gave up, it was a good day for the special teams.

Grade: A-

Coaching

Adam Gase has been a punching bag for fans and media for the entire season, but he kept this team together somehow and had a good game plan on Sunday to get the team’s first win. Bush had a tremendous plan to stop the Rams offense and his players played hard for him. Gase botched the end of the first half, but we’ll overlook that on a day when he got his first win of the year.

Grade: B