Darnold struggles in return
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — There was some hope — albeit just a glimmer — coming in for the New York Jets.
Sam Darnold was back at quarterback after a two-game absence with a shoulder injury, and he was playing with all three of his starting wide receivers for the first time this season. After two promising overall performances in their last two games, maybe this was the week the Jets would finally shed that ugly zero from their win column.
And then, thud.
The Jets fell to 0-11 with a 20-3 clunker against the Miami Dolphins as Darnold and coach Adam Gase’s offense struggled to do much of anything.
“We just didn’t take any advantage of turnovers, the defense stopping the ball and forcing those guys to punt, especially in the second half,” Gase said. “We had opportunities. We just didn’t make the plays we needed to make.”
That has been the running theme for the Jets all season and the primary reason they are off to the worst start in franchise history. The 11-game skid is just one shy of tying the streak the Rich Kotite-led squads had over the course of the 1995-96 seasons.
“I mean, 0-11, no one at the beginning of the season thought that we’d find ourselves in this position at this point in the season,” Darnold said.
New York started on a positive note by getting a 38-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo on its first possession to take a 3-0 lead. But that would be it for the Jets for the the rest of the game.
“They’re a good defense,” right guard Greg Van Roten said of Miami. “We did not play well as an offense today.”
Darnold went 16 of 27 for 197 yards with two interceptions, failing to throw a touchdown pass for his third straight game.
“I’ve got to be better,” he said. “I didn’t play well enough to win a ballgame
today.”
New York managed just 260 yards of total offense, only 10 first downs and was 3 for 13 on third down. The Jets were also 0 for 3 in the red zone. Castillo missed a chip-shot 29-yarder before halftime.
“Obviously, three points is what we get for that,” Gase said. “We just have to find a way to make the plays when they are there to be made.”
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, starting in place of injured rookie Tua Tagovailoa, was 24 of 39 for 257 yards with TDthrows to tight ends Mike Gesicki and Adam Shaheen.