EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – Nick Folk had already made up for his first missed field goal of the season, but his final kick mattered more than all the rest. With the game slipping away in miserable weather, the veteran kicker delivered under maximum pressure, drilling a 56-yard field goal through steady mist as time expired to lift the New York Jets to a dramatic 27–24 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The soaked and half-filled MetLife Stadium erupted as Folk’s kick barely cleared the crossbar, sending teammates sprinting onto the field to celebrate at midfield. At 41 years old and in his second stint with the franchise, Folk admitted afterward that the 38-yard line — the spot from which his game-winner was attempted — was the furthest he felt comfortable during pregame warmups. But with adrenaline surging and the season on the line, he trusted his leg and delivered. Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor, starting again in place of the benched Justin Fields, credited the team’s resilience, saying the win reflected their commitment to complementary football in all three phases.
Taylor finished 19 of 33 for 172 yards with a touchdown pass and added 44 rushing yards and a rushing score as the Jets improved to 3–9 and snapped a two-game losing streak. Rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell broke out with a career-high eight catches for 102 yards and his first NFL touchdown, while Breece Hall rushed for 68 yards and scored twice. After the Jets’ defense forced a late three-and-out, Taylor led the final drive from the Jets’ 43-yard line with 35 seconds remaining and two timeouts. A 14-yard scramble and quick completions to Mitchell moved the ball into Folk’s range. Earlier, Folk had come up short on a 55-yard attempt, while Falcons kicker Zane Gonzalez also missed from 50 before later converting from 52 yards. The Falcons briefly took control when Kirk Cousins threw a nine-yard touchdown to David Sills, giving Atlanta a 24–17 lead with under nine minutes to play and marking the 291st touchdown pass of Cousins’ career. Taylor answered with a grinding, 15-play touchdown drive capped by his own 10-yard run to tie the game at 24. Atlanta leaned heavily on Bijan Robinson, who rushed for 142 yards, scored once, and added five catches for 51 yards, but the Jets’ defense came up with a rare takeaway when Jamal Agnew muffed a punt, setting up Hall’s second touchdown earlier in the game. In the end, it all came down to Folk’s right leg, and his final kick ensured the Jets walked off with one of their most emotional wins of the season.