Jets find a new and embarrassing way to lose another 'must-win' game
Stop me if you heard this one, but the New York Jets had a chance to win the game only to see it slip through their fingers. This time it wasn’t the Jets offense that left Jets fans speechless, but their defense and special teams that left fans scratching their heads. The New England Patriots […]
Stop me if you heard this one, but the New York Jets had a chance to win the game only to see it slip through their fingers. This time it wasn’t the Jets offense that left Jets fans speechless, but their defense and special teams that left fans scratching their heads.
The New England Patriots defeated the New York Jets by a final of 25-22 in Foxboro. Starter-turned-backup Jacoby Brissett replaced the quarterback who replaced him and led the Patriots on two fourth-quarter scoring drives to snap a six-game losing streak and send the Jets to their fifth loss in a row. The loss leaves the once Super Bowl contender Jets at 2-6 on the season with their season on the brink of collapse. And it’s not even Halloween yet.
The Jets offense gave the Jets the lead with about three minutes left in the game with a Braelon Allen touchdown to but the Jets up by five.
You would think with a backup quarterback in, on a team with a bad offensive line the highly-touted New York Jets defense would be able to stop them from marching down the field for a touchdown. But the Jets defense did just that. It took Brissett about two and half minutes to put the Patriots in the end zone and apart from a fourth and goal on the one-inch line, the defense never really put the game in question.
It was another terrible loss for the Jets who somehow found another way to lose. A majority of the blame will go towards the defense for allowing that game-winning drive by the Patriots and Greg Zuerlein, who missed an extra point and a 44-yard field goal. Those four points were ultimately the difference in the game.
For Zuerlein, that was his sixth missed field goal of the season, breaking a tie with Brayden Naverson for most misses in the NFL this season. Naverson was cut by the Packers after week 6. I imagine that Zuerlein will be out of a job by tomorrow afternoon. You could say that was the third game that Zuerlein cost the team, but like the others, this loss goes beyond that.
The Jets can also take a look at the coaching when they are passing the blame out for this loss. The Jets had eight penalties for 55-yards, less than they have had in recent weeks, but they also used all three first half time outs in the first quarter because of the inability to get plays called on time. They were called for delay of game on the two-point conversion try which would have put them up by seven late in the fourth quarter and of couldn’t convert from the seven yard line.
Essentially it was another example of a total team loss, with the highlight moments going to the kicker, the defense and the coaching staff instead of the offense this time.
For Jets coach Jeff Ulbrich, he knows that things are bad right now and is hoping his team can work through it.
Ulbrich went on to say, “I’m pissed. They’re pissed. I’m hurt. They’re hurt.” Jeff, you have been the head coach for a few weeks. When you have suffered as long as the average Jets’ fan, then you can talk about being hurt.
For the Jets, there is no time to sulk over this loss as they have another primetime game on Thursday against the Houston Texans. In a day where zombies are everywhere, could the Jets season rise from the dead. I wouldn’t count on it.
