Only the Jets could find a way to tease us this long. For three quarters of football the New York Jets looked like and played like a legitimate ... (dare I say) ... playoff contender. They thoroughly dominated the Miami Dolphins for three quarters. The Jets offense carved up Miami's leaky secondary with ease, and the defense was having its way once again with Jay Cutler.
Then with the Jets leading 21-14 in the third quarter, Cutler got hurt, leaving the game after getting drilled into Hard Rock Stadium's dirt-painted-green turf, giving way to Jet-killer Matt Moore. But long before Moore settled into tearing the Jets apart, as he usually does, Moore threw a killer interception to Marcus Maye. The Jets quickly turned that Moore mistake into points when Josh McCown connected with Austin Seferian Jenkins for a 10-yard score to push the Jets lead to 28-14.
Instead that fourth quarter turned into a nightmare. One that will live in infamy for years to come. Put Sunday's meltdown in Miami right up there with the Marino's Fake Spike, A.J. Dewey running around the Jets in the Mud Bowl in '83, the Buttfumble and many other legendary pitfalls in Jets lore.
The Jets were flagged for 12 penalties on Sunday, a fair number of them coming in the fourth quarter as the Jets gave away free yards to the Dolphins like it was going out of business. The biggest culprit was cornerback Buster Skrine who was flagged three times in the fourth quarter alone. The other was Robbie Anderson who decided to slam his helmet into the ground when the game had completely turned on its head late in the fourth quarter.
As for the execution it horrendous. Matt Moore lit a fire into the Dolphins and there was nothing the Jets could do to stop it. Moore's performance for Miami was eerily similar to the one he had against the Jets last season. It is no coincidence he is 3-1 against the Jets when he starts the game. He just owns them.
Moore needed just three passes to get Miami into the end zone for the first score, including a 28-yard bomb to Kenny Stills to make it 28-21.
Now the Jets were in full panic mode. Instead of slowing the game down, the Jets true colors showed. First play: Josh McCown incomplete pass. 2nd play: Jets called for holding. 3rd play, Matt Forte for five years. 4th play: McCown sacked. It was a nightmare.
Once Moore got the ball back he tore up the Jets who were on their heels, including getting Skrine on two huge holding calls. Before anyone could blink the Dolphins were in the end zone again with 6:42 to go in the game.
The funny part about Sunday was that even when the Jets made you think they would at least play for overtime, the tricked you again. After finally stopping Miami's offense, the Jets had the ball at their own 15-yard line with 47 seconds to go. They would need to be really smart with the ball just to get into field goal range with the time remaining. Still, playing for OT wouldn't be a bad idea either.
But leave it to the Jets to screw it up. First play from scrimmage and McCown was picked off at the 20 yard line. A gift pick if there ever was one to set up Miami's winning field goal.
Successful teams know how to remain in control of the game and finish it off. That is not who the Jets are. The immaturity of this franchise was on full display on Sunday. From the execution on the field to the play-calling, specifically of the offense, the Jets completely unraveled. Yes, this is a team is in a "rebuilding year." And, yes, this is a team that was not expected to do much this season. But when a team like the Jets holds a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter that can should not be lost.
It is up to Todd Bowles to correct this. It is up to Todd Bowles to get through to his players to stop the penalties -- that is a message that apparently has not gotten through to this point. Perhaps benching Skrine and Anderson would send a message, because clearly these young men just don't get it.
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