Jets get heavy dose of reality vs. Dolphins

DOLPHINS 20 - JETS 12 

The Jets got a heavy dose of reality on Sunday afternoon. Not only did the Jets drop a 20-12 decision against AFC East rival, Miami, they proved that they have a long way to go before they can live up to the lofty hype that was thrown the Jets way over the past six days.

Sunday’s loss was a total 180 from where the Jets were on Monday night. No matter what the Jets tried to do Sunday, nothing worked.

Sam Darnold looked the part of a rookie quarterback. While he became the youngest quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards, he turned the ball over twice in critical situations, was sacked three times and couldn’t jump start the offense the way he did a week ago. Welcome to life in the NFL.

It was not all Darnold’s fault. There was plenty of blame to go around.

Fellow rookie tight end Chris Hendron had a horrendous game.  He dropped two passes, including one when he was wide open down the sideline in the third quarter, and fumbled a completion near the goal line just before the half. Had he held onto the ball, he could have scored and cut into the Dolphins lead at the break. As it stood the Fish took a 20-0 lead into the half.

Ironically, the game opened with a somewhat familiar feel when Darnold threw an interception to linebacker T.J. McDonald who chugged 31-yards to the Jets 15 with 2:53 to go in the first quarter. Three plays later the Dolphins were in the end zone when Kenyan Drake scored to make it 7-0.

Unfortunately for the Jets, the rebound by Darnold never came.

The Jets went three and out on their next two possessions, and on New York’s second possession of the second quarter, Robby Anderson fumbled the football back to Miami. It didn’t take long for Miami to find pay dirt, when quarterback Ryan Tannehill connected with Albert Wilson from 29-yards out to make it 14-0.

Even when the Jets appeared to be turning the game around, the proverbial door was shut in their face. Having just scored on the opening drive of the third quarter to cut the Dolphins lead to 20-6, the Jets defense forced a fumble by Tannehill. Jordan Jenkins fell on the ball at the Miami 12, and the Jets appeared to be in business.

However Darnold went into full rookie mode, forcing a throw into the end zone that was picked off by Xavier Howard to turn the Jets away. 

For the rest of the afternoon, the Jets never got into the red zone again, having to settle for two long Jason Meyer’s field goals.

The positive for the Jets on Sunday? The defense. They forced two turnovers, both on fumbles, and sacked Tannehill four times. More importantly they pitched a shutout of Miami in the second half. Quincy Enunwa also had a big day for the Jets, hauling in seven passes for 93 yards as he continues to assert himelf as Darnold’s number 1 target.

What we learned? The Jets have a long way to go. There was too much hype about the Jets coming into this week 2 match-up, and you had to know that some humble pie was coming after that amazing opening day win. Now the Jets have to find a way to avoid the indignation of becoming the first team to lose to the Cleveland Browns in two years.