The misery for the New York Jets (1-6) continued and Gang Green lost once again. The #LOLJets lost 29-15 to the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) in a game the Jets hoped they’d win after an embarrassing 33-0 pummeling by the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football.
Jets quarterback Sam Darnold looked like he was seeing ghosts again with three interceptions, including two in the fourth quarter. Then again, the real-life Jaguars were hunting him all over the field. The Jags sacked Darnold eight times, which set a career high (or is that low?) for the Jets second-year QB.
“I know he saw a lot today,” said Jacksonville DE Yannick Nkagoue, who notched two sacks. “He saw corners picking the ball. He saw defensive linemen in his face. This is the standard and what we’re trying to embrace.”
“I wasn’t executing out there,” said Darnold. “I wasn’t throwing the ball to where it needed to be.”
Rookie Gardner Minshew won the QB battle and threw three touchdowns with zero picks. Minshew hooked up with his favorite WR target, DJ Chark, for a score. Jags RB Leonard Fournette rushed for 76 yards and added another 60 receiving yards.
Jag’d: Jets Lose Again
The New England Patriots boast the best defense in the NFL, so it’s no wonder that the Pats spooked Darnold enough that he was seeing ghosts. But the Jets fledgling offense failed to show up against the Jaguars.
The Jags are in the middle of the road in terms of defense, but the Jets scored only 15 points. Eight points were generated by a garbage-time touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Jets scored a touchdown on an impressive 93-yard opening drive against the Jaguars. However, the offense stalled after that, and generated only 120 yards during the remainder of the game. After the first quarter touchdown, the Jags hunkered down and pitched a shutout in the second and third quarters.
The Jets could not get the run game going and rushed for a paltry 46 total yards. Le’Veon Bell rushed only nine times for 23 yards. Bell caught three passes, but only added 12 more yards to his overall output of 35 combined yards. B
Backup tight end, Ryan Griffin, is the only one who played halfway decent on offense. Griffin caught four passes for 66 yards, including two touchdowns.
More Physical and PTSD for Darnold
Two weeks after an amazing performance against the Dallas Cowboys, reality sunk in, and the Jets came crashing back down to Earth to lose once again.
Darnold admitted the last two games have been the worst in his entire career playing football. He threw three interceptions against the Jaguars, and got sacked eight times.
“It’s hard but at the same time, I have to come back to work next week,” explained Darnold.
The terrible offensive line contributed to yet another injury. Last week after the New England shellacking, the medical staff removed Darnold’s toenail. This week, he suffered a sprained thumb on his non-throwing hand. That’s on top of the foot injury and mono.
On Deck: Winless Fish and Trade Deadline
The Jets finally get to play Miami and on a short week for the Fins. Miami (0-6) plays the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football in Week 8, with the Dolphins coming in as a 14-point underdog.
Gang Green’s most-positive fans think they’ll crush the Fish in Miami on Sunday, while the less-optimistic other half thinks the Jets will lose again. Only a team truly as inept as the #LOLJets could get beaten by a horrendous team that’s openly tanking.
Miami won three straight games against the Jets dating back to 2017. The Jets come into Week 9’s game as a 5-point road favorite.
With the trade deadline approaching, the one-win Jets were considering which pricey players (DE Leonard Williams and WR Robby Anderson) they can move before the deadline.
One beat writer put it best, saying “Here comes the fire sale.”
On Monday morning, the Jets dealt Williams for draft picks. Williams, the former #6 overall pick, is the final player drafted from the previous regime run by ex-general manager, Mike McCagnan.
For more weekly angst about the New York Jets, check out more #LOLJets recaps.