Jets let rookie QB off hook, fall to 0-4 with loss to Denver

For three quarters, it looked like the Jets were going to get blown out by the hapless Denver Broncos. Denver was starting Brett Rypien, its third-string quarterback, against the Jets and he absolutely lit them up for most of the game.

Through three quarters, Rypien had completed 15 of his 21 passes for 187 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Denver was poised to run away with the game, establishing an 11point lead early in the fourth quarter.

Gang Green's defense came to life after that, but it didn't matter. The Jets' season is dead.

A 37-28 loss to Denver dropped the Jets to 0-4 and puts the pressure squarely on the shoulders of embattled coach Adam Gase. If his job wasn't on the line before this game, it is now. The only reason the Jets cannot be called the worst team in the NFL with absolute certainty is because of the existence of the Giants, who are 0-3.

And it didn't have to be this way. Pierre Desir grabbed a picksix to cut the Broncos' lead to 27-25 and then Brian Poole intercepted Rypien deep in Broncos' territory to set up Sam Ficken's fifth field goal of the game to give the Jets a 28-27 lead.

But Rypien led the Broncos downthefieldandBrandonMcManus knocked through a field goal to give the Broncos a two point lead late. Darnold and the Jets offense had one chance to drive down the field and win the game.

And they blew it. Darnold ended up taking a sack at midfield on fourth down. A few plays later, Broncos running back Melvin Gordon broke free for a 43-yard touchdown to essentially end the game. The Jets almost had Gordon bottled up for a negative run, but he broke free and ran around Gang Green's defense for the deciding score.

For most of the game, the Jets offense wasn't particularly productive. Darnold was averaging 5.3 yards per attempt through three quarters. Frank Gore at one point had just 19 yards on 10 carries.

If the Jets didn't have two interceptions that immediately led to points in the fourth quarter, it probably would have been a blowout.

As much as the Jets' defense saved the team, the unit also kept committing brutal and sloppy penalties. They were flagged 11 times total for 118 yards, including six personal fouls. "The penalties, they're brutal...When we did hit them, we hit them too late and got personal fouls. Just ridiculous," Gase said.

Winless through one quarter of the season with games against the Cardinals, Chargers, Bills, Chiefs and Patriots coming up next on the schedule, it's hard to see where Gase gets his first win of the season, assuming he even gets a chance.