BILLS 18 - JETS 10
Those of you who want to take a look at this with the glass half full approach, at least the Jets didn't get blown out by double digits.
At least for one half of football, the Jets looked like a competent football team. At least for a few drives, Sam Darnold looked like a franchise quarterback. La'Michal Perrine actually existed. And at least wide receiver, Denzel Mims actually showed up.
But soon "at least" turned into a just another dreary Jets disaster as Gang Green lost a field goal fest 18-10 against the Buffalo Bills.
Even though Head Coach Adam Gase ceded the play-calling duties to Offensive Coordinator Dowell Loggains it was little consulation as the Jets offense went into a total and complete deep freeze in the seocnd half. Even though the ballclub held a 10-6 lead at the break, and Sam Darnold and company were moving the football in the first half with rather alacrity against the Buffalo Bills, they could do nothing after halftime.
How bad was the Jets offensive approach in the second half? The Jets managed only 25 yards on 23 plays in the entire second half. That is a little more than a yard per play. Sam Darnold? After completing 11 of 13 passes for 116 yards in the first half, Darnold completed only one pass in 10 attempts for four yards. Four yards!!
Darnold even threw two picks, one in the second quarter where he badly misjudged the depth of the nickle corner and threw the ball right into the waiting hands of Dane Jackson. That cost the Jets a chance to tack on to what was a 10-3 lead.
Later, Darnold threw another costly pick, this time at the end of the game when a desperation pass was deflected at the line and wound up in the hands of linebacker Jerry Hughes to end it.
And let's be fair, were it not for a couple of drops by Bills defenders, Darnold could have easily had a four interception performance. He was not good, especially after the Jets grabbed a 10-0 lead.
What makes the performance even more disappointing is how well the Jets played early on. Darnold was spreading the ball around well. Denzel Mims in his first action of the year since recovering from two hamstring injuries impressed with four catches for 42 yards, and rookie running back La'Michal Perine gave the Jets an added boost in the backfield, running for 39 yards on 11 carries, including a five yard touchdown run.
Dare I say the early first half efforts by the Jets, gave the fans reason to believe that Darnold is indeed the present and future of this franchise. He showed flashes of brilliance. But, his efforts, and in turn the offenses efforts in the second half leave fans, and likely the front office with nothing but questions.
That is why the Trevor Lawrence questions are coming up, and they will continue to do so so long as the Jets keep losing and Darnold keeps putting up efforts like he did Sunday.
And it is not like the Bills were anything spectacular on Sunday. Josh Allen, inspite of the fact he threw for 307 yards, need 43 pass attempts to do so, and was largely inaccurate with the football. The Bills were saved mostly by Allen's legs, who led the team with 61-yards rushing as Buffalo never saw the end zone on Sunday.
At least there is that for the Jets: they held the Bills to six field goals. Unfortunately with an offense so inept, it was not enough.
The Jets teased their fans watching from home on Sunday, teased them into believing that the Trevor Lawrence talk will go away. Instead that discussion will only get louder. By the way the Jets face Kansas City on Sunday.
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