Frank Reich takes the blame for the Jets’ red-zone, third-down and short-yardage problems as a healthier offense gets Miami

Frank Reich has put the New York Jets‘ scoring problems on himself. Before Sunday’s AFC East game against Miami, the offensive coordinator said the offense must get better in the red zone, on third down and in short yardage, and that, as the man calling the plays, “that starts with me.”

The numbers from the Jets’ last game make his point. In the 26-19 loss at New England on October 18, they reached the red zone three times and scored no touchdowns, converted 3 of 10 third downs and failed on both of their fourth-down tries. Jason Sanders kicked five field goals; the only touchdown came from outside the 20, a 48-yard pass from Geno Smith to rookie Omar Cooper Jr. The loss left the Jets at 2-4.

OC Frank Reich on the offense's playmakers pic.twitter.com/aG7tMkgAcr

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 22, 2026

Good signs between the 20s

Reich did not describe a broken offense. He said he was encouraged by how often Smith and his receivers have scored from outside the red zone, calling it a sign of solid foundations, and said the staff had studied the New England tape, corrected what went wrong and moved on. He also singled out the two-minute situations at the end of halves as an area to clean up.

Smith finished 20 of 30 for 252 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Patriots, and Braelon Allen ran 17 times for 78 yards. The offense moved the ball, gaining 324 yards; it stalled when the field got short.

Waiting on a full lineup

Reich’s bigger hope is simply having everyone on the field together. Receivers Adonai Mitchell and Cooper, running back Breece Hall and tight end Mason Taylor have missed 13 games between them in the first six weeks. Reich said Cooper can do everything a receiver does after his six-catch, 103-yard return from injured reserve, ranked Hall alongside Garrett Wilson as the focal points of the offense and said Mitchell’s ability to win deep and underneath makes him dynamic.

“When they’re all healthy and when we’re getting things going, I feel very good about better production, more points,” he said, before adding that the Jets still have to earn every yard. Mitchell is set to return against Miami from his finger injury, while Hall and guard Dylan Parham are questionable; the latest designations are on the injury report.

Reich also praised a Miami defense he described as dangerous at every level, from its fast edge rushers to a pair of very good linebackers and a strong secondary. The Dolphins arrive winless.

What comes next

The Jets host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 25, at 1:00 p.m. EDT at MetLife Stadium; follow it in the Dolphins-Jets Game Center. They stay home to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, November 1, at 1:00 p.m. EST.