Special Teams Review: Jets-Ravens

We've been breaking down this week's game. We conclude today's postgame analysis with a look at the special teams.

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - McNam-Aura

The numbers for Austin McNamara were not very high but that was mostly because the Jets kept punting from near midfield. He kicked well on balance, although an unlucky bounce led to one punt being a touchback instead of downed near the goal line. He had one downed at the six, one fair caught at the 15 and one out of bounds at the 18. You'd ideally like the latter two put a little closer.

On kickoffs, McNamara put two right on the goal line, one of which was muffed into the end zone before being returned. His other kickoff was returned from the 8-yard line though.

Nick Folk remains perfect after hitting a field goal and an extra point. It would have been interesting if Tyrod Taylor didn't take the sack just before halftime because Folk could have attempted one from 58 yards, which matches his career high set earlier this year.

The Ravens punter, Jordan Stout, had an amazing game, although he was under pressure from Marcelino McCrary-Ball on one of his punts. Tyler Loop's placekicking was good but he had one illegal kickoff that bounced shy of the landing zone.

Return game - Kene Keep-Away

Opposing teams are clearly scared of Kene Nwangwu in the return game as the Ravens kicked it away from him all day. Only on the last kickoff of the day, with the game over at 23-17, did they kick it to him and he brought it out past the 40 behind a Kiko Mauigoa block.

Kicking to Isaiah Williams instead, typically meant shorter kicks. Only one was fielded inside the five and all four of Williams' returns were out past the 30, including one to the 41.

He ended up with a kick return average over 30 with his best return behind blocks by Mykal Walker and Qwan'tez Stiggers, albeit after Isaiah Davis let his man beat him only to then slip over.

Williams' next longest return almost reached the 40 behind a terrific pancake block from Isaiah Oliver. Walker and McCrary-Ball also had an effective double-team on the play.

Another one was stopped near the 35 but this was really well blocked and could have popped. The only player who missed their block was ironically Nwangwu, whose man blew it up. Walker, Oliver and Davis made good blocks on that one. Davis also had a good block on Williams' other return.

On punts, Williams had a few issues, as Stout bombed a 74-yarder over his head. He also faked a fair catch on a punt near the end zone but it bounced out inside the five anyway. Also, one of his returns came on a low bouncing punt he had to scoop off the turf.

His three returns on punts netted just 23 yards as Oliver and Dean Clark missed blocks. Ja'Sir Taylor and Stiggers were beaten on the 74-yarder.

Kick coverage - Giving his McCrary-All

McCrary-Ball returned and is still the Jets' leading special teams tackler in spite of the games he has missed. He had his eighth of the season on Sunday and it was a big one as the Ravens looked set to break a long one after the return man juggled the ball into the end zone, inducing the likes of Walker, Davis and Stiggers to overpursue.

Taylor actually has nine this year so he's ahead of McCrary-Ball in the league rankings, but most of these were obviously before he was traded to the Jets.

Kobe King combined with Davis to stop another kickoff return near the 25 and Walker was also credited with a special teams stop. Clark and Andrew Beck were also in on tackles but got no credit.

On punts, the Ravens had no returns with Arian Smith and Stiggers doing a good job as the gunners, combining to force one fair catch. Smith was also the first downfield on the two punts that McNamara bounced inside the 10 with Stiggers and Smith combining to down one at the six, but the other bounced past Smith who couldn't make a diving save.

We'll be back with the 3-on-D and 3-on-O over the next few days...