You can change the uniform. You can change the head coach. You can sell your fans on a new identity and branding, but at the end of the day, what Jets fans saw on Opening Day of the 2019 season was the Same Old Jets.The Jets lost a game where they held a 16-0 lead; lost a game where they were plus-4 in the turnover margin. Lost a game where Le'Veon Bell bailed them out on a nice touchdown grab and two point conversion. Lost a game because their newest kicker couldn't convert on a field goal and extra point. And lost a game because linebacker losing CJ Mosely proved to be a pill they couldn't swallow.
It was an out and out disaster on Sunday for the Jets.
Everything that the Jets had talked about came crashing down in a heap of disappointment, as the major flaws of this team were magnified to the highest degree possible.
Where to begin?
Let's start with the fact that kicker Karee Vedvik missed a crucial extra point after Mosely picked off a Josh Allen pass and ran it back 17-yards for a touchdown. Vedvick who is the third kicker the Jets have tried this summer, was a total mess. In addition to missing the extra point, he missed wide on a field goal that would have given the Jets a 9-0 lead. The kicking was so bad, the Jets never again attempted another field goal or extra point the rest of the day.
What was even more painful about Sunday's brutal loss was the fact that New York managed only six points off the four turnovers committed by the Bills.
Why you ask? Because in addition to the horrid special teams, the Jets offense was undoubtedly rusty. Sam Darnold had little to no time to set his feet to throw as the offensive line was out of sync for much of the afternoon. Of the 11 possessions the Jets had Sunday, eight of them resulted in a three-and-out. Only one resulted in a touchdown.
And that is what makes Sunday's loss even crueler. The Jets were leading all day. Even though Josh Allen was putting up respectable numbers in the first half, the Jets defense was making plays on the football, and held Buffalo scoreless for three quarters. Heck Jamal Adams and company even forced a safety of Frank Gore to give New York an 8-0 lead with 11:52 to go in the third quarter.
The Jets parlayed that burst of momentum into eight more points, when quarterback Sam Darnold engineered the best drive of the day, a nine-play, 60-yard drive that culminated in a nine yard screen pass to Le'Veon Bell that the former Steeler caught off his shoe laces and scored to give the Jets a 14-0 lead.
Next Darnold did his best Brett Favre impression, rolling in and out of trouble and finding Bell in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion to make it 16-0.
Game over right?
It looked it. The defense continued to dominate the game, especially C.J. Mosley, who addition to the pick-six, had five tackles, a blocked pass in the end zone, a fumble recovery, and nearly had a second interception in the second quarter. It was the Mosely show and the Bills had no answer to stop him from taking over the game.
Then something bizarre happened. Before the start of the fourth quarter, word came down that Mosely had suffered a groin injury, and would not play for the rest of the day. Suddenly a Jets defense that was already without Avery Williamson (out for the season ACL) and Brandon Copeland (suspension) were without their defensive captain. And just like that they Jets came apart. It was like someone substituted the 2018 Jets defense as Allen ripped apart the Gang Green in the final stanza.The Bills even found a running back in the process when Devin Singletary contributed 70 yards on four carries to spur the Buffalo comeback.
Singeltary's 23-yard run set up a new set of downs at the Bills 41-yard line, before Allen found receiver John Brown for 14-yards to move into Jets territory. From there Singletary continued his mastery of the Jets defense, gashing them for gains of 12 and 15 yards, to set up a Josh Allen touchdown to cut the Jets lead to 16-10.
After the Jets gained only 19-yards on six plays on their next drive, the Bills took over. Allen hit a wide open tight end Zay Jones for 20 yards to push into Jets territory. Three plays later, Allen hit Singletary for 12 more yards to the Jets 38. Finally, John Brown broke containment from the corner, hauling in a 38-yard pass for the game winning score with three minutes to go.
The Jets response? Nothing. They barely converted a fourth and one to keep their fleeting hopes alive, but it was all for not as Darnold threw up three straight lollypops to all but ice a horrifying 17-16 loss.
Whose to blame? Everyone. Blame the kicker for being bad. Blame head coach Adam Gase for not finding a good kicker to begin with. Blame USA Soccer for taking over MetLife Stadium, preventing Vedvik from practicing at the Stadium over the weekend. Blame Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams for not adjusting his scheme when Mosely left. And by god what about that offensive line?
It's hard to fathom where the Jets go from here. They were exposed by a team they should have beaten, and with a tougher schedule on the horizon, there is no telling when the Jets are going to get that first 'W'.
Take Flight? Not now. Flight's canceled till further notice.
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