Why the Jets should be optimistic, worried after the 20-12 loss to the Dolphins | Safety of the ball, 2nd white game

Here are five things that should be trusted by the Jets despite Sunday's defeat.

Despite the 20-point loss and defeat, the Jets defense has been great from start to finish. Fourteen of these points resulted from turnarounds, making it harder to criticize this unit – especially given the short fields created by these turnarounds. But the defense really closed in the last two quarters, placing a shutout and allowing only 105 yards. This resolution and the ability of the defense to keep the Jets in the game, even when the offensive is in trouble, could prove useful down the line.

Let's face it: Sam Darnold did not have his best stuff against the Dolphins. But he still managed to collect solid discs, including two after the interception of his second interception, and put the Jets away. He and the offensive have to work to finish these orders, but stretches like Darnold's four consecutive finals to set up their last goal on the pitch.

During the first week, Darnold strongly leaned on Quincy Enunwa; ten of his 21 shots went in that direction. Enunwa had a lot of looks on Sunday with 11 targets, but Darnold did a better job of ridding the ball. Terrelle Pryor has seen eight targets, Bilal Powell has six, Robby Anderson has five and four more, several times. This balance will make the Jets' passing game much more difficult for opposing defenses if they continue to advance.