Let's face it, this game was over when the sun rose Thursday morning.
The Jets had no shot against the heavily favored Baltimore Ravens. Quarterback Lamar Jackson -- as he has done all season -- ripped up another opposing defense with both his arm and legs as the Ravens stomped on the hopeless Jets in a 42-21 drubbing that wasn't even that close.Right from the onset, fans knew where this game was going when Gang Green managed only five yards on its fist possession, while Jackson guided the Ravens on a nine-play, 84-yard drive for the opening salvo to make it 7-0 birds.
It was just a none contest. Jackson was too fast as he broke the single season rushing record for a quarterback, once held by Mike Vick, on the opening drive of the game. He also picked apart a horrendous Jets secondary, finding open men all over the field when he wanted to.
Overall, Jackson threw for 212 yards and five touchdowns to five different receivers. It's the third time this year Jackson has tossed five TD passes in a game. He did a few weeks ago in a 45-6 smackdown of the Rams out in LA, and against the Dolphins to start the season in a 59-10 victory.
On the ground, Jackson carved up Gang Green for 86 yards, he didn't score, but didn't need to. Mark Ingraham took care of that, scoring on a ten yard scamper that blew the game wide open at 42-13 with 9:58 to play in the game.
As for the Jets, their sputtering offense continued to do just that: sputter into oblivion. Sam Darnold once again delivered an above average performance, tossing two scores, and throwing a horrible interception into a crowd of black jersey's and helmets. He wasn't that great, as his regression under head coach Adam Gase takes its last ugly turn for the 2019 season.
What had to really drive Jets fans batty, Thursday was the play-calling and decision making in this game.
Believe it or not, the Jets had their chances to do something in this contest, especially in the first half. A blocked field goal on New York's second possession would have cut the Raven lead to 7-3, but alas it didn't happen.
Later with New York down 21-7, the Jets drove all the way down to the Ravens 12 yard line, on a drive that ate up nearly eight minutes. Facing a fourth and one after the two minute warning, head coach Adam Gase decided to roll Darnold out and throw a desperation pass down field, when all Gang Green needed was one yard. The Jets have a Pro Bowl running back in the backfield in Le'Veon Bell, and the Jets decided not to use him. Another pox against Gase.
Had the Jets converted, maybe they score a touchdown to cut the Ravens lead to 21-14.
Finally after the Ravens were turned over on a three-and-out, the Jets had a great field position at the Baltimore 41-yard line, but Darnold was picked off on first and 10 from the 25, killing the drive. In short the Jets easily left 17 points on the field in the first half. A series of gaffs proved to be critical, especially against such a good team like the Ravens.
In three primetime games this season, the Jets have been outscored 98-24. It's easy to say now that the Jets won't get as much primetime coverage next season after that kind of showing.
At 5-9, the Jets have two more games left in this nightmarish season. They play host to the Steelers next weekend at MetLife Stadium, before wrapping things up in Buffalo on the 27th.
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