It was an emotional roller coaster for New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields, who nearly lost his starting job just days before leading the team to its first victory of the season.

After a week filled with public criticism from team owner Woody Johnson and speculation about his benching, Fields guided the Jets to a dramatic 39-38 comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, ending their 0-7 drought.

Fields completed 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, helping New York erase a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter. He also ran for a two-point conversion and connected with Isaiah Davis on another clutch conversion.

After the game, an emotional Fields revealed how difficult the past week had been, saying,

“When I was on the field, I was damn near about to start crying.”

He described breaking down alone in his closet earlier in the week, explaining that the tears came not from football struggles but from “facing adversity and fighting through adversity.”

I cannot begin to express how much I appreciate and respect Jets QB Justin Fields for opening up like this. Not an easy thing to do, and it’s 10x more challenging as a professional athlete:

“I'm going to get pretty vulnerable right here. This week I found myself in my closet… pic.twitter.com/jkaZpGNkgb

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 26, 2025

 

Running back Breece Hall added 133 rushing yards, scored twice, and threw the game-winning touchdown to rookie Mason Taylor. Safety Isaiah Oliver praised Fields for his composure, saying,

“It seemed like the world was kind of crashing in around him, and he just went out there and led us to the win.”

Fields regains trust after week of turmoil

The victory came just days after a tense week in New York’s quarterback room. Following a poor performance against Carolina, Fields had been benched for veteran Tyrod Taylor.

But when Taylor suffered a bone bruise in his knee and was ruled out late in the week, head coach Aaron Glenn turned back to Fields.

Johnson’s pointed remarks earlier in the week had added to the pressure.

“If we can just complete a pass, it would look good,” the owner said, criticizing Fields for the team’s 0-7 start.

Fields brushed off the comments, responding,

“Of course, everybody knows I need to play better… that’s just what comes with the job.”

The 25-year-old made the most of his second chance. With Hall demanding “20 to 25 touches” in the game plan, the Jets ran for 254 yards — their highest total since 2021.

Hall’s 4-yard touchdown throw in the final two minutes marked just the fourth time since 1950 that a non-quarterback delivered a game-winning pass in that situation.

Afterward, Glenn received the game ball and commended his quarterback’s resolve.

“It’s so unfair to him that he gets criticized so much,” Glenn said. “He’s a perfect person to handle everything that’s been thrown at him.”

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