The seemingly impossible has happened.
The Jets have won a football game in 2020.
It took almost the entire season, but New York finally has its first victory, a 23-20 triumph over a Rams team weeks away from playing in the playoffs. Gang Green’s defense stymied Los Angeles’ offense throughout the afternoon, while a second-quarter interception and blocked punt led to crucial points.
The Rams threatened late, but a Marcus Maye pass breakup on a Jared Goff attempt downfield on fourth down turned Los Angeles over on downs. A Sam Darnold completion to Frank Gore on third-and-five just before the two-minute warning put the win on ice.
Game Balls
QB Sam Darnold: Darnold turned in his best performance of 2020 against the Rams, going 22-31 for 207 yards and a touchdown. Darnold’s numbers are not exactly prolific, but he was efficient throughout the afternoon and played a clean enough game to lead the Jets to a win.
Nathan Shepherd and Quinnen Williams: Shepherd and Williams dominated the Rams’ offensive line, combining for seven tackles, three TFLs and two quarterback hits. Los Angeles rushed for only 114 yards on the afternoon and Shepherd and Williams are a big reason why.
Quick Thoughts
-Well, the Jets have done what almost everyone thought they could not — win a game. Credit the players and the coaching staff for hanging in there and doing enough to get the job done against the Rams. Overcoming a 37-point loss to the Seahawks seemed nearly impossible, but New York pulled a rabbit out of its hat.
-Whatever Frank Bush told his defense before the game, it worked for a while. Nice bounce-back performance for Bush and his unit after the Seahawks hung 40 points on them last weekend.
-Maye saved the day. What a play by New York’s best defender to bat away Goff’s fourth-down prayer.
-It did not cost the Jets in the end, but Adam Gase did not do too great of a job managing the clock throughout the game. He allowed the Rams the chance to notch three points before halftime and burned two timeouts in the third quarter. That simply cannot happen.
-Where has the confidence Darnold played with against the Rams been? He looked lost against the porous Seattle secondary last weekend, yet poised against Los Angeles’ No. 1 pass defense. The Jets did not ask Darnold to air it out too much, but he did his part and then some.
-New York’s defensive line was operating at a different level than the Rams’ offensive line. The Jets had their way with Los Angeles in the trenches — especially when it came to stopping the run.
-Eight consecutive opening-drive scores for the Jets. For the first time this season, that opening-score drive contributed to a New York win.
-Bryce Hall has been working his tail off throughout his rookie season, but the results did not come until Sunday. Credit him for sticking to it and coming up with a key interception in the second quarter.
-Ty Johnson provided the lightning, Frank Gore brought the thunder. Finally, a healthy balance between the two. Johnson did his thing in the passing game, while Gore got the job done on the ground.
-It’s safe to say Bless Austin needs to tone it down a bit. Physical play is fine, but three penalties in a game are not what the Jets need out of any of their cornerbacks.
-1-13. With the Jaguars now in possession of the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the tank for Trevor Lawrence is in jeopardy.