The Jets once again found a way to lose on Sunday, losing 19-9 to the Rams despite failing to punt. Here are my impressions and thoughts on the game:
1. Before I get into the specifics of this game (which felt as pointless as any game I've covered so far), I'd like to look back over the years. With the Jets turning the page on Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas, one of the questions I got from some people was when things got better. Because at some point there was hope. It's hard to remember now. However, the Jets found some success in 2022, and the team appeared to be heading in the right direction. We all know that direction was a mirage, with 7 wins and 10 losses last year and 4 wins and 11 losses this year.
So what was the turning point?
There are several candidates.
Eligible to start in the second quarter of the home game against the Patriots on October 30, 2022. The Jets were 5-2 and had won four straight. The team clearly had flaws, but they found ways to win games, mainly defensively.
With 37 seconds left in the first half against New England, the Jets led 10-3. Mac Jones threw a pass that Michael Carter II intercepted and returned for a touchdown, and the extra point would have given the Jets a 17-3 lead. However, it was canceled due to a roughing the passer penalty against John Franklin Myers. The Patriots eventually kicked a field goal, making it 10-6 at halftime. The Pats won 22-17.
Speaking to people around the Jets, it feels like things started to go wrong around this time. The only problem I have with this argument is that they came back the next week and beat the Bills at home.
This brings us to the next important game, again against the Patriots. They lost 10-3 on Marcus Jones' punt return with five seconds left. After the game, Zach Wilson gave a terrible answer about his role in the loss. A few days later, the Jets benched Wilson, and he ended up starting for the Jets again due to an injury, but he never felt like his best player. starter Also. The team clearly lost faith in Wilson, the player they drafted with the second overall pick the previous year, and it was a devastating blow to the team.
Mike White was set to be the starter in Wilson's place, and he gave us hope. Two weeks after the debacle in New England, the Jets were 7-4 heading to Minnesota. The playoffs still seemed realistic.
The Jets played hard against the Vikings that day, but Braxton Berrios scored a touchdown from the 1-yard line and the Jets lost 27-22. It was the first of six consecutive losses that ended the season.
To me, these three games in 2022 were where everything moved forward for the Jets. There was hope that the team was building something, but the way the season ended was a disaster. This slide led to the firing of Mike LaFleur, the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett, and the pivot to Aaron Rodgers, but it didn't work out.
Right now, it feels like the Jets have been in a hopeless situation for a long time. It's hard to remember, but two years ago, there was hope for a brief period of time before it disappeared spectacularly.
2. That is what we have today. Garrett Wilson is one of those prospects as the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Now, it feels like Wilson and the Jets are headed for a divorce, as this franchise has experienced many times with its star players. Wilson looked miserable and expressed his regret at Sunday's loss.
There is speculation among those who know Wilson that he will request a trade after the season. Wilson has so far declined to address that question and has publicly stated that he wants to remain with the Jets. But this feels like a bad situation is getting worse.
On Sunday, Wilson was targeted just three times before the final drive of the game. For some reason, Wilson and Rodgers didn't hit it off. That's not to say Rodgers wasn't looking for him. He has 141 targets, which ranks fourth in the NFL, and 90 catches. But as you watch the games, you can see that the two have looked the other way many times this season.
Things got even worse with the addition of Davante Adams to the team. Rodgers clearly trusts Adams and focuses on him far more than Wilson in key moments.
A new general manager and head coach might be able to turn this around and get Wilson to agree to the new regime, but this feels like an offseason where Wilson wants out and the new regime nominates him. Team building that may accelerate team growth by gaining power.
I would sign Wilson to an extension. I think he is a very talented player who still has a lot of room to grow. I feel it's bad management to trade such a player.
3. When I look back on the Aaron Rodgers era, one of the things that sticks out is how bad a general manager he was. Efforts to bring in his friends largely failed. Adams looks pretty good, but it may be too little, too late.
Allen Lazard had two more drops on Sunday, bringing his total to eight in 10 games this season. Lazard had some positive moments early in the season, but was sidelined with a chest injury. But overall, Lazard's two years with the Jets were a huge disappointment for him, who signed a four-year, $44 million contract. The Jets can and will move forward after this season. Lazard will become a footnote to the Rodgers era as one of several bad moves made to please Rodgers.
4. Speaking of bad moves, the Haason Reddick trade might be one of the worst trades in team history. Redick tipped a pass Sunday against the Rams. Other than that, I couldn't see him again. There were no tackles or sacks in this game. He has 1/2 sack since coming off a holdout this season. It's surprising how little impact Redick has had.
reveal status
The Jets only had one play longer than 20 yards, and that was exactly 20 yards. Rodgers hit Tyler Conklin for a 20-yard gain on the first drive. Other than that, the Jets mainly made short-term gains throughout the day. This offense lacked explosiveness for most of the season.
Amazing number of snaps
This may need to be renamed Malachi Corey Watch. The rookie actually played in Sunday's game…and played zero snaps. The only other active player who did not see the field was backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The coaches clearly don't trust Corey.
game ball
Breece Hall has been dealing with a knee injury in recent weeks, but he looked like himself Sunday. Hall didn't receive the ball enough, but when he did, he made some great plays. He had five catches for 38 yards and 14 rushes for 52 yards.
