Braxton Berrios entered Sunday’s game leading the NFL in kick return average, and was named a first alternate to the Pro Bowl on the strength of that. But there was one thing he hadn’t done all season until Sunday against Jacksonville: take one to the house.
“It felt great to finally finish one this season. We had a scheme going and I think we ran it to perfection,” Berrios said after the game. “Kicker to beat, and once we beat him we were out of the gate.”
The 102-yard scamper gave the Jets a 13-9 lead, and brought out a celebration with Michael Carter that Berrios admitted was an ode to the old University of Miami celebrations, and one they’ve practiced for a few weeks in case Berrios finally broke one.
That, alone, would be enough to say Berrios had a good game, but pressed into extra duty at wide receiver due to injuries and COVID issues, the slot man had team highs with five catches and 37 yards on a day where the running game – which included one three-yard carry for Berrios – carried the Jets to victory.
“With everything going on, it’s week to week figuring out who needs to do what,” Berrios said after the game. “We knew we were down a decent amount of receivers today, so the game plan was that I’d be in a little bit more.”
He made the most of it by leading the team in grabs, targets (six), and yards, perhaps his biggest contribution a huge 12-yard grab on a 3rd-and-9 play from the Jets’ 43 with just over three minutes left. It kept alive a drive that ended in a field goal, which made it a full possession game leaving Jacksonville needing a touchdown to win, and was a tough grab where Berrios was hammered immediately.
“It was pretty simple, it was a type of in route. (Zach Wilson) felt room, I saw room as well, and as I was running it I was pretty sure he was coming to me,” Berrios said. “He put it on the money. We both knew the safety would be there, but that’s one of those plays you have to make.”
“That was my hot option; they didn’t come on us quick, but I felt the window so I knew I had Brax on the back side. I felt the safety and where the space was,” Wilson added. “We both knew he’d get smoked there, but there’s not another guy I’d want in that spot. He’s tough and he’s a baller. Get playmakers the ball in critical situations and they’ll make it happen.”
Berrios is ideally well down the Jets’ depth chart at receiver, and he has just 36 catches for 366 yards in 14 games this year – only three with 50 or more yards and four with five or more catches. But, the free agent to be is developing some nice chemistry with quarterback Zach Wilson.
“It’s big, and to orchestrate that chemistry, I have to see things through his eyes,” Berrios said. “I know what he saw in coverage on that (third-down) play and where the holes are, and so does he. At the end of the day it’s about timing and being where he expects you to be.”
Berrios would love to be back with Gang Green – as he says, “I’m here and I’d love to be here, but that’s something down the road” – but for now, he’s just thrilled with his contributions across the board on a day where the Jets were missing a dozen players due to COVID protocols.
“It’s incredible. It’s week 16, and in the NFL season there’s always adversity, but COVID brought a whole new set of challenges,” Berrios said. “It was about resilience and next man up, whoever is out there has to make a play. We made one more play than they did today.”
Oh, and if you’re wondering if Berrios has the chops to handle it all in New York, well, keep in mind that as he answered all of his questions during Sunday’s postgame, he did so wearing a reindeer onesie and Jets Santa hat.
“It’s a full Rudolph onesie that I had to step into, but I didn’t want put the hood on, and I had this Jets Santa hat I wanted to break out. Merry Christmas, everyone,” he smiled. “This was stashed in my bag and if the game went the other way, it never would’ve came to light. But our defense made a great play to end the game, so we broke it out.”
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