Special Teams Review: Patriots at Jets

We've been breaking down this week's game against New England. We wrap up today's analysis with a look at the special teams.

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - Ryan Whiffin'

Sam Ficken remains out and Sergio Castillo remains impressive as he made three extra points and two field goals, including a 50-yarder. That's despite the fact that Ryan Griffin twice allowed players to beat him off the edge for a pressure.

Braden Mann continued to kick off with Ficken out and his first two kickoffs were touchbacks but his other four were all returned - three of them from in the end zone.

Mann once again didn't get much work as the punter. His first one, from the 41, pinned New England inside the 10 and his other one, in the last minute, was a solid 49-yarder that went out of bounds and forced New England to start their game-winning drive from their 22.

Griffin again allowed a near pressure on a punt. On New England punts, Bryce Huff was the closest to getting pressure.

Finally, it looked like Jabari Zuniga was the guilty party that caused the Jets to be flagged for 12 men on the field as the Patriots attempted a field goal on 4th-and-5.

Kick coverage - I AM THE BENNETT

Recent main roster re-addition Bennett Jackson was the standout on special teams this week as he had a special teams tackle inside the 20 on a kickoff return and managed to down a punt at the 7-yard line despite slipping to the ground.

The Jets mixed up their gunners this week with Javelin Guidry getting to cover Mann's second punt. That may have been because Arthur Maulet was in the defensive rotation for the injured Brian Poole by then.

Matthias Farley also had a spectacular play in coverage, cutting down the return man inside the 20 as he tried to hurdle him.

Maulet also had a special teams stop near the 20 and Pierre Desir had one past the 30 on the second wave. Huff was also credited with a special teams stop.

Bryce Hager had a missed tackle on one return and got blocked out of the play on another.

Return game - Braxton Perilous

Braxton Berrios hasn't been getting many chances to return punts this year, so the Jets used him on kickoffs this week instead. He didn't have much success, although he got past the 25 once.

Ty Johnson, who fielded the opening kickoff for a touchback, may not have been shoved aside for Berrios in this role. The Jets often had both back but the Patriots opted to kick to Berrios, perhaps viewing their former player as less of a threat. Johnson missed the block on one of Berrios' returns.

Jackson and Maulet also let a man beat their double-team block to blow up one return.

Berrios returned New England's only punt about 12 yards but this was negated by a Farley holding penalty.

That wraps up today's analysis from the game, but we'll be back with more over the next few days...