WORTH THE WAIT
Darnold returns at last, with magic in his pocket
ORCHARD PARK – He was running around in the cold without a care in the world, zigging right, spinning around, zagging left and letting it fly like some sort of Houdini in shoulder pads.
You had a feeling watching this California kid making something out of freakin’ nothing amid this jaw-dropping, highlight-reel of a play that he’d probably played this all out in his head way back when in board shorts on a beach someplace far away from here.
Welcome to the magical world of Sam Darnold, whose showstopping seven-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson highlighted his fourth-quarter wizardry to beat the Bills, 27-23, Sunday to snap the Jets’ six-game losing streak.
It was cool to see for a team that has spent nearly two months hoping for something good to happen. Every Jets fan should rejoice: Hallelujah! You finally got your quarterback.
Darnold was brilliant, dropping dimes and flashing his improvisational skills in his first game back since suffering a sprained foot last month. His future isn’t bright. It’s blinding.
Jordan Jenkins: “That’s what great quarterbacks do.”
Jamal Adams: “He’s clutch. He came out and he did what he did, man, showing why he was drafted where he was drafted.”
Robby Anderson: “He’s going to be a great football player. I’ve said that and I’ll stand on that.”
Josh McCown: “He has the right makeup. Those are the things that you look for and you want in a quarterback that’s going to lead your franchise for a long time. Today was a glimpse of that.”
Darnold gave everyone a scare after going into the locker room after a scramble on the Jets’ third play from scrimmage. He returned after one series, sleepwalked through the first three quarters (9 for 14, 89 yards, INT) before delivering in crunch time by engineering 85- and 61-yard touchdown drives.
“He’s starting to be himself,” said Todd Bowles, whose team avenged a 41-10 loss to the Bills four weeks ago. “And wanting to be himself.”
Darnold went 7 for 10 for 81 yards with the pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter, but nothing was more spectacular than his seven-yard touchdown pass to Anderson.
The rookie atoned in a big way for his third-quarter interception when he was picked off trying to make a throw on the run.
On third and 5 from the Buffalo 7, Darnold channeled his inner Fran Tarkenton/Aaron Rodgers/Russell Wilson/Patrick Mahomes.
He bolted right while being chased by Kyle Williams, did a 360-spin at the 27-yard line and darted across the field back to his left before throwing on the run at the 15-yard line for Anderson. Along the way, left tackle Kelvin Beachum drilled Williams to clear the path for Darnold, who covered a total of 46.8 yards, according to NFL’s NextGen stats.
“It’s 1, 2 wasn’t there,” Darnold said about his reads. “I tried to go to 3. He wasn’t there. And just tried to make a play.” He did just that. “He was going to the right,” Anderson said. “I had to shake loose and find an area. (My defender) was holding me. So, I had to knock him off from holding me and then run around and come back. But thankfully, (Darnold) found me and he put it right where it needed to be.”
It wasn’t the last time that Darnold and Anderson would hook up in the fourth quarter. After the Bills took a 23-20 lead with 2 ½ minutes left in regulation, Darnold went to work with the same poise and calm that will one day make him great.
On second and 4 from the Bills 42 with 1:54 left, he recognized that the Bills were playing man coverage against the speedy Anderson. So, he did what smart signal-callers do: give his play maker a chance to make a play.
“Typically people play more zone and softer in two-minute (situations),” said Josh McCown. “And if they do something like play man coverage, you got to be able to take advantage of it. So it was good awareness on his part to see Robby and go with the deep ball.”
Darnold made a pinpoint pass into Anderson’s waiting arms to the 5. “He dropped a dime,” Anderson said. The Jets got to the 1 on Darnold’s scramble, leaving Bowles with a decision on 4th and goal from the 1 with 1:22 left.
The coach rightfully went for it. Gang Green brought in every active offensive lineman to pave the way for Eli McGuire’s one-yard touchdown run for the game-winning score.
The victory won’t help the 4-9 Jets as they jockey for position near the top of the 2019 draft, but there were more important reasons to rejoice for Jets faithful. “Every quarterback as a kid you dream about converting two-minute drives and going down there and scoring,” Darnold said about his performance in crunch time. “To be able to score a touchdown at the end of the game was awesome.”
Here’s something else that’s awesome: Sam Darnold is the real deal.