MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Jets dropped their fourth straight sport and ninth in 10 video games with a 32-26 time beyond regulation loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. Listed here are some ideas and observations from the sport:
1. The Jets have had a horrible time visiting South Florida in recent times. I detailed the conferences going again to 2016 in my Put up Sports activities+ e-newsletter final week. The final Jets win right here got here in 2014 in Rex Ryan’s finale as Jets coach.
It has been some time.
The bizarre historical past there goes again even additional. Being within the customer’s locker room in Miami all the time brings again reminiscences for me. In 2013, that is the place John Idzik and Woody Johnson gave Ryan a vote of confidence to return in 2014. A 12 months later, we have been chasing Johnson and Idzik out of the constructing as firings have been imminent.
However the journey to Miami that was actually on my thoughts after Sunday’s sport was 2011. You keep in mind that one, proper? It was the ultimate sport of the season and the Jets misplaced 19-17 with Santonio Holmes preventing his teammates within the huddle.
That loss eradicated the Jets from the playoffs. It was a shocking finish to a disappointing season with the Jets lacking the playoffs after back-to-back AFC Championship sport appearances.
The postgame locker room that day was offended. There was anger at Holmes but in addition anger at how the season went. LaDainian Tomlinson, who performed his final sport that day, spoke to reporters for an prolonged time frame and detailed what he thought wanted to vary for the Jets to achieve success.
Right here’s the factor: it felt like a brief setback. The Jets went 8-8 and missed the playoffs however the feeling that day was that they had core they usually might make some modifications and get again to the playoffs the subsequent 12 months.
Fourteen years later, the Jets have been eradicated from playoff competition in that very same constructing. However this time it got here in Week 14 and I didn’t sense a lot anger within the postgame locker room (apart from possibly Garrett Wilson). This staff is 3-10 they usually accepted who they’re some time in the past — a staff that lacks management, cohesive play and a killer intuition.
It’s surprising that the playoff drought is at 14 years. Take into consideration what number of unhealthy NFL organizations there are — Jaguars, Panthers, Browns, Commanders, Raiders, to call a number of — they usually have all been to the playoffs extra not too long ago than the Jets.
It defies logic {that a} staff might be this unhealthy for this lengthy. The one time they’ve even come near sniffing the playoffs since that day in 2011 was in 2015, once they suffered one other crushing final-game loss in Buffalo.
The drought now has a lifetime of its personal and whoever takes the GM and training jobs subsequent higher acknowledge that. Aaron Rodgers stated after the sport that he’s solely been the starter for a 12 months when requested in regards to the drought, however the drought hovers over this group and the frustration of followers stems from it. So, though gamers and coaches might solely be right here a short while, the anger comes from 14 years of largely unhealthy soccer and should really feel disproportionate to what’s taking place in a selected season.
2. There are such a lot of elements in why the Jets are dropping this season however the protection continues to return up small. This unit was anticipated to be among the many finest within the NFL this 12 months. Statistically, they’re, however anybody truly watching the video games is aware of they don’t seem to be.
This can be a group that makes zero impression. They’ve two interceptions this season and none in 9 weeks. On Sunday, that they had no sacks and no quarterback hits regardless of Tua Tagovailoa throwing 47 passes. Take into consideration that: 0-for-47. Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich blamed it on Tagovailoa getting the ball out of his hand rapidly. Properly, then the protection just isn’t ok. The Jets ought to have been in a position to power him to carry the ball for at the least one play to permit the cross rush to get dwelling.
Then, there are the late-game collapses. You simply knew when the Dolphins acquired that kickoff return late within the fourth quarter that they have been going to kick a subject aim. In time beyond regulation, you knew the Dolphins would drive down the sector.
The Patriots, Colts, Seahawks and Dolphins have all now gone proper down the sector late in video games to beat the Jets.
This group has not been the identical since Robert Saleh was fired on Oct. 8. The cross rush is inconsistent. They commit penalties on the worst instances. It was the one unit that folks penciled in as a given coming into this season. As a substitute, it has been an enormous downside.
3. OK, sufficient doom and gloom. For those who’re in search of a optimistic from Sunday’s sport, the 2 rookie working backs regarded good. Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis fashioned a pleasant duo with Breece Corridor lacking the sport with an injured knee. They did nicely working (83 yards mixed) and catching passes out of the backfield (4 catches, 65 yards).
The Jets might have a pleasant trio of backs subsequent 12 months with Corridor and these two. A artistic offensive coordinator ought to have the ability to discover a means to make use of all three.
4. We’re in tank season, the place followers of unhealthy groups are dreaming of touchdown on the high of the draft and taking a franchise quarterback. Subsequent week’s Jets sport is a cautionary story that it’s not all the time the reply. The Jets and the Jaguars meet and it is going to be Aaron Rodgers in opposition to Mac Jones at quarterback in a meaningless sport (besides draft place) between two 3-10 groups.
It was not speculated to be this fashion. The 2 groups have been 1-2 within the 2021 NFL Draft and Jacksonville took Trevor Lawrence and the Jets took Zach Wilson. Neither decide has labored out. Lawrence is out with a concussion and there may be nonetheless some hope he is usually a long-term beginning quarterback however he has not lived as much as his pre-draft billing. Wilson is now the No. 3 quarterback in Denver. Each coaches who drafted the quarterbacks have been fired.
So, whereas it’s enjoyable to dream about your staff discovering the reply on the high of the draft, simply bear in mind it’s not a assure.
Revealing stat
The Jets have misplaced 5 video games this season that they led within the fourth quarter. That’s the most in franchise historical past, in accordance with ESPN.
Shocking snap depend
Michael Carter II performed simply 12 snaps (17 p.c). Carter has been coping with a again harm this season however was off the harm report final week. This appears to be extra in regards to the coaches preferring Isaiah Oliver (22 snaps) at nickel.
Sport ball
Garrett Wilson confirmed why whoever the Jets rent as GM must make extending the younger large receiver a high precedence. Wilson had seven catches for 114 yards going primarily in opposition to Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Wilson is a constructing block for the Jets.
