PETTY, JETS CRASH IN NEW ORLEANS:
Jets need better players to compete
NEW ORLEANS — We’ve officially reached the silver lining portion of the Jets season when it doesn’t really matter if you are what your record says you are, because, frankly, your record doesn’t matter anymore. Todd Bowles’ team was mathematically eliminated from the 2017 NFL playoffs Sunday with a 31-19 loss to the Saints inside a place that can cause permanent hearing damage, but who’s kidding who here? The postseason was lost long ago. The upshot of the seventh Jets’ loss in the past nine games was that they weren’t humiliated when nearly every breathing soul figured this would be a Bourbon Street bloodbath. The Jets (5-9) were scrappy, competitive and put a scare into a team favored by a ridiculous number of points (16, if you hadn’t heard). “We’re going to keep fighting,” Bowles said of his message to his team. “Obviously this is going to turn. I believe we have a good core group.” That core is smaller than a quarter though. The reality about this franchise stuck in a perpetual malaise is that it needs better players. There might be some promising young pieces, but Bowles needs more. Much more. So, it shouldn’t have been all that surprising that an offense led by a backup quarterback making his fifth career start (and first of the season) struggled in the redzone time and time again. Why would you be shocked that Bryce Petty & Co. converted only 33% (5 of 15) on third downs? Raise your hand if you were aghast that future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees lit up the Jets for 17 points on the Saints’ first three drives. This outcome didn’t stun anyone, but the game unfolded in a way that few predicted. The Jets appeared on the verge of getting their collective derrieres blown out of the Superdome before Bowles’ defense came alive. They could have folded up shop after getting torched out of the gate, but they reversed course for a terrific six-drive stretch (excluding a kneel down) spanning both halves that gave the Jets some hope that they could pull off this miracle.
The good news: Gang Green forced three turnovers and three punts during that stretch to keep it close.
The bad news: The Jets managed only three points off those three turnovers.
Petty (19 for 39 for 179 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 49.0 rating) actually played better than I thought he would in such a rough environment, but…
“Just hanging in there in this league is not enough,” cornerback Mo Claiborne said.
True, but that’s actually an important step for this team at this stage of its rebuilding process. If you expected miracles this season after scanning the roster, then you deserve to be disappointed. Any practical observer knows the deal: It’s going to take time to remake this team.
Bowles isn’t done cleansing this organization from some residual poison, either. (See: Repeated rules offender Mo Wilkerson, who didn’t make the trip and isn’t long for this team).
Bowles’ team has been competitive for all but two games in a season marked for infamy not long ago. Those losses will flip to the other side with roster upgrades in the offseason.
“I know how we lost and I know why we lost,” Bowles said. “We are fighting. As long as we’ve got fight and we correct the small things, we will be fine.”
The Jets simply didn’t capitalize on golden opportunities in the Big Easy. They squandered a chance in the final minute of the first half after Leonard Williams’ interception (after pressure on Brees from Xavier Cooper) gave them the ball at the New Orleans 11-yard line. Petty & Co. settled for Chandler Catanzaro’s 29-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-10 at halftime. The red-zone struggles were killers, but not entirely surprising.
Bowles’ defense did as much as it could before ultimately cracking against the league’s top-ranked offense in the fourth quarter. The Jets trailed 17-13 entering the final quarter before Brees & Co. tacked on a couple touchdowns to seal the deal.
“He does a good job of coaching us and getting us ready for the game,” cornerback Buster Skrine said of Bowles. “Now it’s on the players to learn how to finish. He can’t play the game in the fourth quarter. So, it’s on the players to figure out how to win.”
Will things turn around for the Jets? If so, when?
Outside linebacker Darron Lee predicted big things soon.
“The future of this team?... Dominance,” Lee said. “You better heed warning now. This whole season will be a warning shot of what’s coming. Because once everybody — special teams, offense, defense — all figure it out, it’s over.” Slow down, grasshopper. First things first: Get better players.