Jets fail to show up in loss to Broncos
DENVER – Shocking wouldn’t be the appropriate description given that these guys were never the ’72 Dolphins, ’85 Bears or any version of Foxborough’s Evil Empire, but it was a damn pathetic display that should embarrass everyone in green and white.
The Jets laid a colossal egg in a 23-0 loss to the Broncos (4-9) Sunday that ensured a seventh consecutive season on the golf course when the playoffs begin. Sure, Gang Green’s postseason chances were on life support before they stepped on the field, but dropping to 5-8 basically sealed the deal. Frankly, they weren’t worthy of the playoffs after breathing life into a hapless opponent on an eight-game losing streak.
“They out-coached us, they out-played us, they out-hit us,” Todd Bowles said. “They beat us in every phase.”
On the bright side, it was an unusually mild day one mile above sea level.
The Jets, losers of five of six on the road this season, were shut out for the first time since getting throttled, 31-0, by the Chargers in Week 5 of 2014 (the day after Geno Smith missed a team meeting due to a time-zone brain cramp).
John Morton’s offense, fly- ing high one week ago, hit the snooze button: They managed only 100 total yards, the second fewest in franchise history to a 72-yard clunker on Joe Namath’s final game as a Jet in December 1976. The Jets picked up only six first downs, failed on 10 of 13 third downs and averaged only 2.1 yards per play. They were crushed in time of possession (by 15 minutes).
It’s been the oddest of seasons for Bowles’ team, which has somehow managed to overachieve AND disappoint entering the home stretch. Nobody expected the Jets to win five games. Nobody expected them to lose six of their last eight games after that unexpected success, either. Yet here we are. “We just didn’t make any plays – not enough plays,” said Mo Wilkerson. “We didn’t have any energy like (when) we play at home.”
A litany of culprits contributed to this train wreck. Their unlikely 38-year-old Iron Man quarterback was wounded, beaten to a pulp and taken away before the third quarter was over. Josh McCown’s feel-good ride in the twilight of his career came to a crashing halt after he broke his left hand in what appears to be a seasonender for the veteran leader.
McCown suffered a hip pointer on a second-quarter scramble that prompted him to miss his first snap of the season. He returned, but not for long. Bryce Petty took over for the first time this season, but the damage was done.
“We got to stay together,” Jamal Adams said about Bowles’ message after the loss. “As a team we didn’t prepare well at times during practice. So we got to lock in at all times and as a team get better. It’s not just one side of the ball. It’s everybody.”
It was a disaster from start to finish thanks to mental gaffes, physical blunders and all-around putrid play against a team that appeared to have quit weeks ago. From two boneheaded defensive plays on the opening drive that led to a Broncos’ field goal to McCown’s pair of turnovers on the Jets’ first three drives, this one was particularly painful on the eyes.
The Jets managed freakin’ 40 total yards in the first half to help dig a 13-0 deficit at intermission that they wouldn’t overcome. Costly penalties (where have we heard that before?) and shaky secondary play (Mo Claiborne had a rough afternoon against Demaryius Thomas) reared their ugly heads again. Even the long snapper Thomas Hennessy (concussion) got hurt, prompting blocking tight end Eric Tomlinson to take over, for Pete’s sake.
McCown, meanwhile, went 6 for 12 for 46 yards, one interception, one lost fumble and a 25.0 passer rating before going down for good.
“Injuries are a part of this game, but you never want them,” Petty said. “For as tough a competitor as he is and as good of a person on and off the field, it’s tough. He B pours his heart and soul into the guys.” owles confirmed that Petty will start against the Saints next week if McCown can’t go in what amounts to one final audition for the thirdyear quarterback. No matter who takes the snaps under center, there simply cannot be a repeat of the slop that we witnessed against the Broncos.
“I care about next week and playing our ass off (and) not putting that sh-- on the field again,” tight end Austin SeferianJenkins said. “I don’t care about anything else except playing hard next week and not embarrassing ourselves…. I think everyone feels this way. I’m embarrassed. It’s unacceptable.”