DOLPHINS 19
JETS 17
Needing a victory against the Miami Dolphins, and a lot of help to make playoffs, the Jets put together another stinker, as Gang Green choked away their playoff future with a 19-17 loss; Mark Sanchez starred front and center in the abysmal effort.
Sanchez was not only mediocre, he was awful.
He didn't dazzle anyone in the first half of the game when New York clutched onto a delicate 10-3 lead; then, ultimatey, began to stink in up in Sanchez fashion. With the Jets facing a second and eight at their own 47 yard line, Sanchez dropped back to pass, and, in a poor attempt to find LaDainian Tomlinson on a crossing pattern, Sanchez dumped the ball off into the hands of Randy Starks, a gigantic defensive lineman, who intercepted the football with only nine seconds left in the first half.
Miami answered quickly, and Dan Carpenter kicked a 58 yard field goal to cut the Jets lead to 10-6.
Then the Jets ineptitude continued into the second half, as the Dolphins ate up the entire third quarter, and part of the fourth quarter with an incredible 21 play, 98 yard drive that ate up 12:29 on the clock. Matt Moore was percise and accurate with his passes, completing 12 of 13 passes for 87 yards, with a 1 yard touchdown pass to running back Chris Clay to make it 13-10. Devon Bees was a huge key to the Dolphins success on the drive; the speedy slot receiver hauled in four balls for 38 yards, converting two huge third downs in the process.
The fact is the Jets defense, which has been like a sieve all season, was dreadful on that drive. They allowed Miami to hold onto the football for that long was inexcusable, especially from a defense that is labeled by their coach as the best in the NFL.
After that it was all on Sanchez. On the Jets ensuing possession after the Jets touchdown, Sanchez made a hideous mistake. With pressure coming from former Jets Jason Taylor, who was closing in on a sack, Sanchez decided to put the ball up into the air and threw it into the hands of Starks, who rumbled ahead to the Jets 30 yard line. Miami eventually settled for a field goal, but the trend was firmly established; this was Sanchez's to lose, and he lost it.
Later in the fourth quarter, with the Jets driving deep into Dolphins territory, New York received a heck of a break on a roughing-the-passer penalty on Miami, as Yerimiah Bell couldn't stop his momentum into Sanchez on a blitz. The penalty came on a third and nine which would have forced the Jets to punt, but no, Gang Green got new life at the Dolphin 30.
But Sanchez then threw away the opportunity; he threw the ball right into the hands of Marvin Mitchell, who rumbled all the way down the field to the Jets 36. Miami settled for another field goal, all but ending this game at 19-10.
Interesting moment: Late in the game, as New York was trying to get itself back in the game, Santonio Holmes got into a war of words with a Jets player while in the huddle. He left the huddle, flipped his helmet, and sat on the bench for the rest of the afternoon.When asked why he didn't join his teammates on the sideline, Holmes, wouldn't answer. Then when pressed about what he thought about Mark Sanchez, he threw him under the bus, saying that Sanchez didn't play well enough to help the team win.
According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, several Jets players felt that Holmes "quit" on the team at a crucial juncture of the season. Holmes was elevated to a team captain this year, with the hope that he would mature and become a leader. He has been anything but that this year. From throwing the quarterback under the bus to his idiotic touchdown dance when the Jets were trailing the Eagles 28-3, and now Sunday's actions, Holmes is quickly writing his ticket out of town.
However, the Jets had signed him to a big contract, so if they move him, it will have to be via trade. The Jets are beginnnig to see why the Steelers were so quick to get ride of Holmes over a year ago.
As for the Jets offense and Sanchez, it was another despicable performance. Sanchez once again showed that he is not the answer as the Jets franchise quarterback, and New York has got to begin looking around for another quarterback.
Forget the rumors about Peyton Manning; the Jets are not going to risk millions into an aging quarterback who is coming back from neck fusion surgery. The Jets could look at potential free agents like Kyle Orton, or Green Bay Packers back-up quarterback Matt Flynn. Flynn is a highly touted prospect, who threw for six touchdown passes in Green Bay's 45-41 victory over Detroit on Sunday.
Then there is the issue with the offensive coordinator. Brian Schottenheimer has got to go. Rex Ryan once again had to defend Schotty during his post game conference, but the facts are plain. This Jets offense has been dreadful in their play-calling, and Schottenheimer has not done a good job preparing this quarterback, and he has not done a good job in molding an offense that had talented pieces in Holmes, Plaxico Burress, and Dustin Keller. It has been a colossal failure.
As for Rex Ryan, the pressure is now on him. He has got to step up and accept the fact that changes have got to be made to this football team if it is to be successful next year. He has professed consistently that this was a Super Bowl team; now he has egg all over his face. Another season of unfulfilled expectations, then Ryan will be the one on the griddle, not the gridiron..
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