Yesterday, the New York Jets took on the Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium. Early in this season, this game was circled on the Jets' schedule as an easy win. However, Detroit was coming into this game having won 5 out of their last 6 games and now 6 out of their last 7 after outlasting the Jets 20-17. There were many questionable coaching decisions in this loss but the most significant was not using any of the three timeouts with the ball down by 3. Had this been the case, the Jets could have attempted a much closer game-tying field goal to play for overtime or even try to score a game-winning touchdown. This is one mistake that HC Robert Saleh cannot afford to make at this stage. The Jets are now 7-7 on the season and would not make the playoffs if the season ended today. The only good news the Jets have received this week is the Dolphins losing on Saturday and the Raiders beating the Patriots yesterday in one of the craziest endings you will ever see. In order for the Jets to snap their 12-year playoff drought, the only sure way is to win out.
In terms of the offense, they had a solid day. Second year QB Zach Wilson returned to the starting role with Mike White dealing with broken ribs and not medically cleared to play. Wilson gave the Jets and their fans all they could have hoped for, a chance to win the game. He completed 18 of 35 passes for 317 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. In addition, rookie WR Garrett Wilson has now passed Wayne Chrebet’s rookie reception record for the Jets and continues to make big plays for their offense.
In terms of the defense, they played very well until the final two minutes of the game despite being down DT Quinnen Williams. The Lions were faced with a 4th and Inches from their own 49-yard line coming out of the two-minute warning and the Jets' defense was caught sleeping as they allowed a 51-yard receiving touchdown that ended up being the game-winner. It was the little plays such as this and the inability to win at least one game against the Patriots that could very well keep the Jets out of the playoffs for the 13th straight season.
Special teams also made a costly mistake in this game by allowing a punt return for a touchdown to give the Lions an early 7-0 lead. This was the second time this season that special teams have allowed a punt returned for a touchdown, which is the most in the NFL. The last time was ironically the last time Zach Wilson started for the Jets in their Week 11 matchup in Foxborough where the special teams allowed a game-winning punt return for a touchdown with only 5 seconds to play.
This week, the Jets will stay home to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium on Thursday Night. Even if the Jets somehow sneak into the playoffs, this will be the Jets last home game of the season due to the fact that they will not win the AFC East and still have not won it since 2002. Like today’s game, this game too was circled as an easy win on the Jets schedule before the season began. The Jaguars are now 6-8 after stunning the Dallas Cowboys 40-34 in overtime earlier and are very much still alive in the race for the AFC South. It appears that this will be a rematch of Zach Wilson (#2 pick in last year’s draft) and Trevor Lawrence (#1 pick in last year’s draft). The Jets won 26-21 last year but both teams have improved since then and the Jets cannot take this one lightly and need to win in the worst way possible. Don’t worry Jets fans…your team is still hanging on by a thread and likely will be until the end of the regular season.
-Jack Henry Cicio
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