The rating was 40-0. Buffalo had dominated New York in each sense of the phrase: offense, protection, particular groups, physique language, camaraderie. They had been most likely respiration superior air at that time. Lastly, after one other three-and-out to begin the fourth quarter, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich benched Aaron Rodgers. It ought to have occurred a lot earlier.
Backup Tyrod Taylor swooped in and instantly ran an environment friendly offense. The 15-play drive culminated with a nine-yard landing cross to Garrett Wilson, positioned able that screamed: I belief you. Wilson fell to the bottom as he caught the ball and stayed there for a number of additional seconds. Whether or not it was cathartic, or Wilson was merely completely satisfied to place up the Jets’ first factors of the day, the vibe had shifted.
For the sport’s final 13 minutes, Rodgers was rightfully on the bench, and every thing felt lighter for the Jets. The 41-year-old omnipresent quarterback had a day that may solely be described as a shitshow. A couple of lowlights:
Two interceptions, one in every of which completely illustrated Rodgers’ lack of arm zip
Sacked ultimately zone for a security
Giving up on a fumble recovered chase that Matt Milano took to the home
A late hit penalty (actually)
Underthrowing too many short-to-mid vary passes that landed at his receivers’ ft after which brazenly blaming them for the incompletions
Rodgers’ biggest feat Sunday was surpassing Tom Brady’s document for probably the most sacked quarterback of all time. Yeah, it’s a knock on his present offensive line, a capability to rapidly launch the ball figuring out the tackles are backups, and the truth that he has zero agility left. No less than it’s a testomony to his longevity.
But that cup half-full view of the document does nothing for his teammates or Jets followers as a result of they’ve the worst model of him. Early Sunday, NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport reported that Wilson can be requesting a commerce if the Jets retained Rodgers. Rapoport claims that Wilson and Rodgers by no means discovered “frequent floor” after their coaching camp altercation.
Rodgers being anointed the messiah after which skipping out on obligatory minicamp to go to Egypt isn’t the easiest way to develop chemistry with one of many league’s most promising younger wideouts.
Wilson has managed to eke out his third 1,000-yard season in three years, however a lot of that was because of his clear-cut function as WR1 earlier than the Jets introduced over Davante Adams in Week 7. Earlier than Adams’ arrival, Wilson was the fourth-most focused wideout within the league. From Week 7 onward he’s tied for seventeenth. The goal shares proceed to drop because the weeks roll on. It has nothing to do with Wilson’s capability which is sky excessive, it’s that the Jets handed the franchise to Rodgers. Along with bringing over his guys like Adams and Allen Lazard, he hand-picked his buddy offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Regardless of a persistently failure of an offense, Robert Saleh took the autumn after a 2-3 begin. Hackett remained and the Jets have solely received two video games since.
All of the whereas, Rodgers has whined about every thing from Jets media members to his personal teammates. To not point out the hordes of off-the-field controversies, most notably not believing in vaccinations. Even when the Jets had been profitable a little bit extra, is that this the kind of chief you need. A 41-year-old washed-up quarterback coming off a torn achilles. Wilson deserves higher. Sauce Gardner deserves higher. All of the younger gamers on the Jets deserve higher.
The Jets should transfer on from Rodgers. The choice is coming fast. With the top of Week 18 would be the starting of the interview course of for a everlasting head coach. It’s unfathomable {that a} high-end candidate like Lions OC Ben Johnson would wish to be a part of the Aaron Rodgers Expertise. Or anybody for that matter. Clearly, that can be a significant dialogue level.
The Jets tradition was rotten earlier than Rodgers and can be after. There’s a cause gamers like Sam Darnold have discovered success elsewhere after being horrific in New York. Proprietor Woody Johnson is a shame. He reportedly fired Saleh in a dialog that lasted about 30 seconds. In line with an explosive report from The Athletic, Johnson additionally opted to not commerce for star wideout Jerry Jeudy because of his Madden ranking. Think about a roster with Jeudy and Wilson as co-WR1s.
However the NFL is the league of hope. It’s why we care so deeply about each transfer and why some need our rebuilding groups to be particularly unhealthy to garner higher draft positions. There’s all the time the prospect to show issues round.
After the Jets’ 40-14 embarrassing loss to the Payments, Wilson, a dogged competitor who’s thirsty for a profitable season expressed his personal model of hope.
“It’s irritating, but it surely’s going to make these good instances down the highway that rather more fulfilling as a result of we went via issues like this”
For Wilson, the great instances can solely start when and if the Jets ship Rodgers packing.
MVP of the week
Sam Darnold, quarterback, Minnesota Vikings. Previous to the much-anticipated Minnesota-Inexperienced Bay matchup, Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon was requested by ESPN in regards to the problem of dealing with Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Nixon’s response? “I don’t actually suppose it’s a problem.”
Assume once more as a result of Darnold lit up Nixon and the Packers protection. Darnold’s line was 377 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Extra importantly, the Vikes eked out a 27-25 win to arrange a Week 18 battle in opposition to Detroit to determine the no. 1 seed within the NFC.
Sunday was one other notch within the Sam Darnold story of perseverance paying off – beginning with the correct system underneath Kevin O’Connell. In opposition to Inexperienced Bay, Darnold once more had ice in his veins. His pocket consciousness was on show all through, particularly on this landing throw to Jordan Addison within the third quarter. Darnold can be a goldfish with the essential trait of getting a short-term reminiscence. After throwing the interception, he was 5-for-5 with a landing on the following drive.
The 14-2 Vikings led by Darnold is one in every of this season’s most notable storylines. It was presumed Darnold was a one-year signing however now it isn’t certain how the Vikings can let him stroll away. Secure to say his teammates would really like him to stay in Minnesota.
Video of the week
In the midst of the second quarter, Eagles QB Kenny Pickett placed on a captivating show in defying the legal guidelines of gravity.
We by no means obtained an official ruling because the incompletion/fumble/regardless of the hell that was morphed right into a constructive play when Cowboys nook Andrew Sales space was flagged for incompletion. Moments later, the identical stumbling bumbling Pickett capped the drive with this magnificence to Devonta Smith:
The rating gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead and, to place it mildly, they by no means regarded again. Saquon Barkley took the reins and continued his historic chase of Eric Dickerson’s single-season dashing document. His 167 yards put Barkley above 2,000 for the season. He’ll want 101 yards subsequent week to eclipse Dickerson. The sport in opposition to the Giants, Barkley’s former staff, can be meaningless from a staff perspective. With the 41-7 whooping of Dallas, the Eagles clinched the NFC East and a house playoff recreation, locking themselves into the No 2 seed. In what could also be every week of relaxation for a lot of starters, will probably be fascinating if Nick Sirianni lets Barkley go for it. Both method, he deserves to stay nestled within the MVP dialog.
Stat of the week
Six factors. It’s a holiday-fantasy soccer championship week miracle! Trey McBride scored his first landing of the season. Not solely that it got here amid a prolific season with McBride’s first rating coming after 98 receptions, a brand new NFL document.
All instructed, McBride had a monster statistical night time in a 13-9 loss to the Rams. Along with the landing, he collected 12 catches for 123 yards. However McBride’s night time ended on a somber observe as a possible game-winning semi-catchable ball ultimately zone with 42 seconds remaining deflected off his head and landed within the arms of Rams nook Ahkello Witherspoon. Had Kyler Murray floated the ball with contact as an alternative of firing it in visitors, McBride’s second rating of the sport (and season!) would have been much more possible.
Elsewhere across the league
Didn’t the Giants know they had been presupposed to lose? Drew Lock ripped up the memo and proceeded to throw for 309 yards and 4 touchdowns in New York’s 45-33 upset over the Colts. Lock ran in a fifth rating. New York’s efficiency eradicated the Colts from playoff competition, put Malik Nabers again on the map, and possibly – simply possibly – saved Brian Daboll’s job. However the chance of New York nabbing the No 1 choose within the draft is far slimmer; it now belongs to New England, who face Buffalo in Week 18.
The 8-8 Bengals nonetheless have a slim probability of constructing the playoffs after a 30-24 additional time win over Denver that was each clunky and thrilling. The Bengals had an opportunity to win it late within the fourth, however horrible time administration gave Denver sufficient time to tie it. In OT, after each groups punted, Bengals kicker Cade York doinked a 33-yarder, however Joe Burrow bailed him out with a Tee Higgins rating with 1:10 remaining in OT. Right here’s the Week 18 state of affairs for Cincinnati to make the match: defeat PIT + DEN loss + MIA loss.
Right here’s a ridiculous theorical floating on the net: Will the Chiefs, who’ve clinched home-field benefit, attempt to knock out the Broncos? Or will they let Denver win to keep away from a conflict with Cincy within the playoffs?
Raiders tight finish Brock Bowers broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year document for many receiving yards by a rookie tight finish. Bowers now stands at 1,105 and counting. That he’s been such a power amid the Raiders’ quarterback carousel makes the feat much more spectacular.
After Miami’s spectacular 20-3 beatdown of the Browns, the Dolphins will make the postseason with a Week 18 win over the Jets and a Denver loss to the Chiefs. The Broncos merely need to win.
