Darnold, Jets hold on to beat Jones, Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » Sam Darnold and the New York Jets are feeling a whole lot better about themselves — and their prospects for this season — after a gritty win.
Even if it came against the equally lowly Giants.
Le’Veon Bell scored a goahead 1-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter after a 33-yard pass interference penalty on DeAndre Baker, and the Jets rallied and then held on to beat Daniel Jones and the Giants 34-27 on Sunday for Big Apple
bragging rights.
“We needed that Darnold said.
Darnold threw a touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder and ran for another score, and Jamal Adams scored on a 25-yard fumble return on a strip-sack as the Jets (2-7) bounced back from an embarrassing 2816 loss last week at previously winless Miami. It also snapped a three-game skid, during which the seat under coach Adam Gase had grown increasingly hotter.
“We need every win from now on,” said Darnold, who was 19 of 30 for 230 yards and no interceptions. “We’ve one,” still got a chance. I mean, if we got on a roll here and win out, we’ve got a chance at the playoffs. Guys in this locker room know this.”
The postseason seems little more than a pipe dream at this point, but the Jets are suddenly optimistic again.
“Today was not nearly a perfect game,” Bell said, “but it was good enough for us to win.”
Jones threw a career-high four touchdown passes, two each to Darius Slayton and Golden Tate, but couldn’t prevent the Giants (2-8) from losing their sixth straight game. It’s their first six-game skid since 2014, and has some frustrated Giants fans calling for Pat Shurmur’s job.
“We’re disappointed we haven’t been able to win a game for six,” the Giants coach said. “That’s the way it works. I am disappointed we didn’t win this game. That’s where it’s at. The state of the team? That’s where we are at.”