Jets at Bills: Special Teams Review

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

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - Fick 'em to the curb

Sam Ficken had another disappointing game, as he missed two more field goals, although he semi-redeemed himself with a 47-yarder to ice the game near the end. The first of his misses was a long kick from more than 50 yards after an ill-advised wildcat run was stuffed on 3rd-and-short but his other miss was a chip shot.

Ficken also only had one touchback on his four kick-offs, although the three that were returned got stopped short of the 25. The Jets have to be able to find a better option than Ficken to undertake this role next season.

Punter Lachlan Edwards was also unimpressive, as he's been for most of the season. For the second week in a row, his numbers were artificially inflated by a bad kick that got a lucky bounce, although even with that he still only had a 42.8 yard gross average.

To his credit, he did have one punt that was downed at the six-yard line and another than forced a fair catch at the 12.

The Jets had below replacement-level play at this position for so many years that it seems like a bit of a risk not to bring him back. However, he is out of contract, so they may opt to bring in someone on a cheaper rookie deal and hope they bring more upside.

Return game - Y'all ain't got no Honey Nut?

The Jets only got one chance to return a kick-off this week with Vyncint Smith getting lit up at his own 15. Daniel Brown missed his block on the play, which also saw Tarell Basham flagged for an illegal blindside block. Brown redeemed himself later on by falling on an onside kick to clinch the win, though.

On punt returns, Braxton Berrios only got to return one punt as Nate Hairston got burned by the gunner three out of three times in the first half. He avoided Hairston's man to get nine yards on the one return he had and ends the season as the league leader in punt return average.

To Hairston's credit he managed to stay on his block on one second half punt, only for it to be shanked out of bounds. They gave him double-team help on the other, which still ended up as a fair catch. However, other than maybe Luke Falk, no Jet has struggled in a role this year as much as Hairston has when they've used him as a vice.

Kick coverage - Ty you up in knots

The Jets stopped all three Bills kick-off returns short of the 25 as Brandon Copeland, Ty Montgomery and Matthias Farley were credited with the tackles.

Montgomery deserves special credit because he got downfield first and took on the lead blocker on two of those plays, including the one where he made the tackle himself. Hairston and Harvey Langi - who ends up as the Jets' leading tackler on special teams - were both also in on one of those tackles.

On punts, Darryl Roberts did a good job as a gunner. He got downfield twice to down punts, including one at the six-yard line and also forced a fair catch by beating the vice on another one. Of the other two punts, one was shanked out of bounds and the other saw Frankie Luvu cut down the return man nicely in the open field.