Jets tight end Ryan Griffin celebrated his contract extension with another touchdown catch Sunday.
The Jets and Griffin agreed to a three-year contract worth up to $10.8 million on Saturday. He reached the end zone for a team-best fifth touchdown a day later in the Jets’ 34-3 win over the Raiders.
“It happened real quick,” Griffin said of the contract extension. “[GM] Joe [Douglas] extended a great offer that I couldn’t pass up. It’s a testament to the front office making me feel welcome here. I signed late here, on the eve of camp and … I knew we had something real good here. I’m happy to be here and looking forward to a couple of years here.”
Griffin has been a huge factor for the Jets. The 29-year-old signed in July and was expected to hold the fort until Chris Herndon returned from his four-game suspension. Instead, injuries derailed Herndon and Griffin has been the Jets’ most consistent offensive player.
On Sunday, he caught only three passes for 13 yards, but one was a 1-yard touchdown on the first drive of the third quarter that gave the Jets a 20-3 lead. The play had quarterback Sam Darnold roll to his right and then throw back to Griffin on a screen. He was wide open and walked into the end zone.
“I knew it was six,” Griffin said. “We ran it in practice and it didn’t work out. I was hoping coach Gase would still pull the trigger on it because it’s a winner. What a play call. The design was great. It was tough for me to get into the end zone between [Kelvin Beachum and Jonotthan Harrison]. It was fun.”
The Jets went to RB Le’Veon Bell on 11 of their first 18 plays in a clear effort to get him involved. Bell had a 23-yard catch on the first play of the game. He ended up with 12 carries for 49 yards and five catches for 59 yards. Statistically, it still was not great, but Bell was a bigger part of the offense on Sunday.
“It felt like we got him going a little bit today,” Gase said.
Safety Jamal Adams almost got to Raiders QB Derek Carr on a play in the first quarter but it was whistled dead because of a false start penalty. Adams and Carr then jawed at each other. What did Adams say?
“I told him I’d be right back,” Adams deadpanned.
RT Chuma Edoga (knee) will have an MRI exam on Monday. … The Jets scored 34 points for the third straight game. It is the first time in the Super Bowl era that a team has scored exactly 34 points in three straight games, according to ESPN. The Jets have scored at least 30 points in three straight games for the first time since 2008 … The last time the Jets held an opponent to three points or less was in Week 2 in 2011 against the Jaguars. … The Jets held a 31-point lead for the second straight week. It was the first time in franchise history that happened.
For more on the Jets’ blowout win, listen to the latest episode of the “Gang’s All Here” podcast:
