Jets Top Giants in Blunder Bowl

JETS 34 - GIANTS 27 

For at least one night the Jets own New York ... kind of ... after holding on to beat their MetLife Stadium co-tenants the New York Giants 34-27 in a slopfest that was every bit as sloppy, poorly coached and, at times, as poorly played as everyone had anticipated.

The Jets won this game because they stunk less than the Giants. Big Blue's inability to run the football at all in this game combined with Daniel Jones' persistent struggles to hold onto the football as well as a number of bone-headed decisions by head coach Pat Shurmur doomed the Giants in this football game.

This is not to take anything away from the Jets. They played well,  even if it was in spurts. Against a team like the Giants that was more than enough.

The Jets simplified the playbook right from the get-go, allowing quarterback Sam Darnold to get settled in with short, precise throws as he delivered his first non-turnover game since the season opener.

On the opening drive of the game Darnold was seven-for-seven on pass plays as he guided the Jets on a 13-play, 75-yard opening drive that ate up half the quarter. On second and goal at the Giants two, the Jets totally faked out Big Blue on a quarterback sneak that everyone thought was a draw play to Le'Veon Bell. Darnold kept the ball himself and skipped into the end zone for the score to give the Jets a 7-0 lead.

After the Giants were turned aside on a three and out on their opening series, Darnold had the Jets on the move again, this time extending plays with his legs like on the 23-yeard touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder where Darnold had to roll out to his right to find the open receiver.

Still the Giants hung around. Big plays and even bigger penalties by the Jets defense allowed the Giants to crawl back into the game.

With the Jets leading 14-7, Jones hit Darius Slayton in stride for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-13. That was the good, until Shurmur decided to shoot his football team in the foot with the first of many bizarre coaching decisions. The Giants elected to go for two points, which they failed to convert. They would spend the rest of the afternoon chasing that point.

Things didn't get any better for the Giants coming out of the locker rooms to open the third quarter when Jamal Adams bull rushed Jones, ripped the ball out of his hands and dashed into the end zone for the score to make it 21-13 Jets.

Adams was all over the field Sunday for the Jets. In addition to pressuring Jones, he was key in stopping the Giants on a crucial fourth and one at their own 39 that led to a turnover on downs.  He was also key in the Jets defense holding superstar running back Saquon Barkley to just one yard rushing on 13 carries.

Overall Adams led the Jets with nine tackles, two sacks, a pass defensed and two more quarterback hits. It was the best game of the year by the Jets most active player.

Adams touchdown proved to be the turning point in the game. Even though the Giants would come back to take a lead, there was never a sense that Big Blue would win the game. This felt like a Jets afternoon and Adams was a big reason why.

Trailing the Giants 27-24 in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, Darnold hit Crowder on a short pass in space and let the veteran do the rest on a 25-yard gain to the Giants' 34-yard line. On the next play the Giants were called for a huge pass interference penalty in the end zone, giving Gang Green a chance to get back in front, which they did on the next play when Bell plowed into the end zone to make it 31-27.

The rest of the day turned into a punt fest, however another bizarre moment came when Shurmur used all three Giants timeouts before the four minute mark of the fourth quarter. The Giants had no ability to stop the click again down only seven points as the Jets slowly ran the clock out on Big Blue.

So for at least one night, Adam Gase's hot seat has cooled down -- a little bit, while Pat Shurmur's is scalding hot. And the Giants are on a bye week this week. It's going to be very interesting in the coming days.

Next: The Giants are off this week and will visit the Bears in two weeks. The Jets visit the 1-8 Washington Redskins next week. Could this team be on the precipice of ... dare I say .. I  win streak?