Sam Darnold Returns, Jets Offense Sinks Again

 DOLPHINS 20 - JETS 3 

Another chapter of embarrassment has been written about the 2020 New York Jets, a team that dropped to 0-11, Sunday as they kept pace with their historic trek to infamy. Five more losses to 0-16. Five more losses til the so-called tank job fans are hoping for is complete. Five more losses until fans can begin thinking about Trevor Lawrence in green and white (we think). 

Sunday's loss was atypical Jets. They played careless, and the coaching by Adam Gase was even worse as the game woefully dragged along until it become noncompetitive by the third quarter. 

Sam Darnold returned to the lineup for the first time in weeks, and put together a horrendous performance, completing only 16 of 27 passes for 197 yards and two interceptions, with the first pick coming on a pass intended for Jamison Crowder that was badly thrown by Darnold as it sailed into the waiting arms of Nate Needham with the Jets down 13-3. 

This was supposed to be the start of a serious audition for Darnold, and he failed badly. As much as Adam Gase is to blame for Darnold decline the past two years, the former first round quarterback had no excuses Sunday. Not when he had a full compliment of receivers with Breshard Perriman, Denzel Mims and Crowder.

If there are any questions about Darnold's future in Green and White, the arrow is pointing drastically toward the end of his run here, believe it or not. The Jets have $25 million reasons right now to move on. 

As for Gase, his play calling again was hideous. How do you as a head coach, with your team down 13-3 not go for it on 4th and 3 on the 46 yard line; then two drive later, decide to run the ball right up the gut with a 37-year old running back on 4th and 1 at the Dolphins 17, with everyone expecting Gore to get the ball? There is no creativity. No ingenuity, no smarts. 

And this coach has the audacity to stand up in front of the press (via Zoom) and tell people that he is not in charge of the play calling, when we all know he is. If there isn't enough evidence that Gase is not only a horrible coach, but pathological liar, I am not sure what else the Johnson brothers need. 

At the end of the day it was a 20-3 loss in a season where the Jets were outscored by the Dolphins 44-3 in two games combined.

 Ryan Fitzpatrick again stuck it to his former team, tossing for 257 yards and two scores as he kept his Dolphins the playoff hunt, with an outside shot at division leading Buffalo. The Jets meanwhile keep their pursuit of imperfection intact.