Part 6/10:
The Jets’ defense, which had struggled earlier in the game—particularly against Cincinnati's run—stepped up at critical moments. Despite missing Sauce Gardner, their star cornerback, the secondary held its composure. Young defenders like Malcolm Moore and rookie safety Azaria Thomas responded admirably, especially on Cincinnati’s last drives.
The defense’s performance, especially in the final two drives when the game was on the line, was commendable. They contained Cincinnati’s explosive offense, including Jamar Chase, who was limited to under 100 yards receiving, and kept the Bengals offense in check during clutch moments despite some vulnerabilities earlier.