Jets Grounded in Hideous Display in Miami

DOLPHINS 13  JETS 6

It was another Sunday chuck full of listless, unprepared and even unaccountable football from the New York Jets.  Facing the NFL’s 27^th ranked defense, the Jets had no answers in a 13-6 defeat to the Miami Dolphins. 

Even in a game where the Jets defense played near-perfect football it was not enough, as the Jets fell to 3-6 in a game that will surely turn up the heat on head coach Todd Bowles.

The Jets managed only 14 first downs, 275 yards of offense, a poultry 2-for-13 on third down, and 0-for-2 on fourth down as New York lost its third straight game. Over their last three games, the Jets have scored only 33 points. That stat doesn’t do justice, considering over their last eight quarters, the Jets have scored only one touchdown.

While New York has battled their fair share of injuries over the past month, they were supposed to be healthier on Sunday. They didn’t play like it.

Of the Jets 13 possessions on Sunday, they punted seven times, kicked two field goals, missed a field goal, and turned it over four times. While the execution was poor, the play calling and lack of ingenuity by offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was alarming.

Robby Anderson didn’t have a catch longer than 10 yards until the Jets opening drive of the second half on a 17-yard completion from quarterback Sam Darnold in a drive that ended in a punt.

Quincy Enunwa? His longest catch of the day of 23 yards didn’t come until very late in the fourth quarter in a drive that culminated in a Sam Darnold interception on a desperation throw on fourth and 15.

As you can tell, it was a rough day for Darnold, perhaps his worst of the season. He completed 21-of-39 for 229 yards and a new career high, four interceptions. Darnold has thrown 14 interceptions on the season. Somewhere Peyton Manning is crossing his fingers his rookie interception record gets tied, if not broken by the USC product.

Over his last three games, Darnold has thrown only two touchdowns and seven interceptions. While struggles were expected from a rookie quarterback, the fact the Jets coaching staff can’t put this 21-year old man in winning situations is beyond troubling.  

One of those situations revolves around the center, Spencer Long.  Long struggled once again snapping the football. In one instance Darnold had to bend down to pick up a bad snap, and by the time he looked up a crowd of Dolphin defenders literally ripped his helmet off. 

In the fourth quarter with the Jets trailing 6-3, Long nearly snapped the ball over Darnold’s head on a play that resulted in a Darnold pick-six to Jerome Baker to give the Fish a 13-3 lead.

The Jets didn’t bench Long until the final five minutes of the game, a decision that Bowles should have made before this game started, especially if his center was bothered by a finger injury. When asked about Long’s performance, Bowles said he never thought of taking him out based on performance. That is not an answer Jets fans want to hear.

Defensively, give the Jets credit. They held Miami to just seven first downs and 168 yards of offense. Quarterback Brock Osweiler was ineffective as Miami could only muster two long field goals against New York. They did their job. It’s a shame the offense couldn’t cooperate.

The Jets face the Buffalo Bills next week at the Meadowlands in what will be a battle between two of the league’s worst offenses. This is a game the Jets should win, considering Buffalo coach Sean McDermont can’t get enough of mistake prone quarterback Nathan Peterman.