'UNSTOPPABLE'
Darnold has grand visions for offense
Sam Darnold’s return to the Jets from a three-week bout with mononucleosis resulted in the first win of the season, an impressive performance against Dallas in which the second-year quarterback earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Even with a daunting divisional matchup looming Monday night against the unbeaten Patriots, Darnold believes the offensive upside for the Jets is even greater, especially once starting tight end Chris Herndon also returns from a hamstring injury.
“Right now we’re just missing Chris, once all the guys are back together, I think we’re unstoppable as an offense or we can be,” Darnold said after practice Thursday in Florham Park. “It’s up to us how we execute or how well we go out there and play.
“It’s really up to us how many points we score, I think. I think we’re capable of scoring so many points. Our offensive line, too, they played well the last game, with the way we’ve been running the ball and the way they’ve been protecting, I think sky’s the limit for us.”
Of course, those are pretty boastful comments from the quarterback of a 1-4 team, especially heading into a game against a 6-0 Patriots squad that has dominated the AFC East for nearly two decades. New England has copped 16 of 18 division titles — and the past 10 in succession — since Bill Belichick and Tom Brady aligned in 2001.
“I think for us, when you get locked in on trying to break the dynasty or tear them down, that’s when you start losing control of yourself, or losing control of your emotions during the game,” Darnold said. “For us, it’s continuing to take it one game at a time and focus on this game plan and what we need to do. The certain looks that we get, how we’re going to digest those and go about the game that way.
“Because if get outside of ourselves and try to take down Tom Brady, take down Belichick, those are all legit things, but for us, it’s just focusing on what we need to do and how we need to execute.”
Darnold certainly executed the game plan efficiently against the Cowboys following a three-week absence, completing 23 of 32 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns. But the Pats defense has been even stingier than normal this season, leading the NFL in fewest yards allowed per game (234.7) and points per game (eight) through their 6-0 start.
“You said it, their defense is good, they have been all year, but just like any other team, they’re not unbeatable,” Darnold said. “So we just got to go out there and find a weakness in the defense and keep working. That’s what we’re going to do on Monday night. ... We had a good practice today and we’re looking to build off that.”
Darnold only started one of the two games against New England as a rookie with little positive effect on the outcome, completing 16 of 28 for 167 yards and no touchdowns in a 38-3 loss on Dec. 30 in Foxborough.
Darnold said a key Monday will be establishing Le’Veon Bell in the running game while also hitting on more big plays when New England is in man-toman coverage — as he did with downfield strikes to Robby Anderson, Jamison Crowder and ex-Pat Demaryius Thomas last week against Dallas.
“I just think they’re more sound. I think they’re making less mistakes. That’s really it,” Darnold said of the Patriots. “They’re not doing anything crazier, they’re not bringing any crazy pressures, so they’re just executing really well on defense and not making mistakes.
“If you do those things, it’s pretty hard to prepare for a defense that does that, so we just have to make them pay in man coverage, and in the zones we have to find the holes, and beat them that way.”
Darnold, 22, also isn’t viewing this week’s game as a marquee matchup against the 42-year-old Brady.
“I’m not focused on Brady at all. Belichick’s the defensive coordinator. So I’m going up more against him, I think,” Darnold said. “It’s just X’s and O’s. For us, it’s about executing and playing better than them.”