REDSKINS 15 - JETS 13
Sam Darnold did not have a great night in the
Jets 15-13 loss to the Washington Redskins, Thursday night. But it was not like he did any severe damage
to his chances to assume the starting job.
If
the Jets quarterback competition is still a competition by its definition, New
York did not get a lot of clarity in that regard as to whom will start Week 1.
Teddy Bridgewater, who played the entire
second half, was solid as he led the Jets on two long scoring drives, but one
couldn’t help but get the feeling that Bridgewater’s effort was more of an
advertisement to a potential trade. Or is it?
Meanwhile,
Josh McCown didn’t play, as Todd Bowles pulled out a familiar script from last
preseason by sitting the 39-year old for the entire contest.
Last year Bowles sat McCown in all but one preseason game because he
settled on him as the starter. Did Bowles send that same message Thursday? Or
has Darnold’s closed the gap enough that the coaching staff believes the USC
product is starting right off the bat?
Only Bowles knows the answer at this point. If Bowles has settled on McCown, and won't play him than he has quickly turned this competition into a complete farce.
Looking at the tape, Darnold had his good moments and his bad
moments on Thursday. He hurried a couple
of throws, including his pass that was tipped in the air and picked off by Skins
safety Troy Apke in the second quarter. Darnold was also sacked twice; the most
glaring coming on a key third down at Washington’s 18-yard line because he held
onto the football too long.
Not all of his mistakes were Darnold’s fault. A banged up offensive
line that is missing Brian Winters and Ben Ijalana is a major concern for Gang
Green moving forward. There were moments on the Jets first couple of possessions
where Darnold really struggled to handle the blitz from Washington. It is fair
to say the O-Line issues played a major part in his struggles.
As with any rookie there were moments of brilliance. Darnold made a
couple of nice throws to Tre McBride under duress on New York’s 12-play 42-yard
drive that ended in three points. By the end of the first half, Darnold
finished 8-of-11 for 62 yards and the interception. If anything, Darnold looked
and felt like a rookie.
As for Bridgewater he had his ups and downs too. He failed to move
the Jets on New York’s first three possessions of the second half, but
engineered a long 71-yard touchdown drive, with his best throw coming on a
back-shoulder fade to Charone Peake for a 16-yard touchdown to cut the Redskins
lead to 12-10.
At times this summer, Bridgewater has been the Jets best
quarterback. That usually is enough to win a starting job outright, but
considering the circumstances, the Jets are more likely to deal Bridgewater for
draft picks.
The Jets host the Giants next weekend. The Jets quarterback
competition heads into another week with plenty of questions and little
answers.
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