Instant Analysis: Jets choke away their first win in gut-wrenching loss to Patriots

The Jets were five minutes away from picking up their first win of 2020.

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The Jets were five minutes away from picking up their first win of 2020.

And then they choked. Badly.

Joe Flacco tossed an interception into double coverage when the Jets should have been running the ball to salt away the clock. The Patriots scored on their ensuing drive, New York failed to break the tie on its final offensive drive and Nick Folk drained a 51-yard field goal to hand Gang Green its ninth straight loss.

The Jets have been embarrassed plenty so far this season, but make no mistake about it — this is the worst loss they have endured in a long time. Fans can take solace in New York still being the front-runner in the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes, but Monday night was indicative of why the Jets are the laughing stock of the NFL right now.

Game Balls

Breshad Perriman: Perriman turned in his best game as a Jet going up against the Patriots’ banged-up secondary, catching five passes for 101 yards and two scores.

Harvey Langi: Langi played well in his first start in place of the departed Avery Williamson, registering 10 tackles from the inside linebacker position.

Tarell Basham: Basham was a force coming off the edge, recording three tackles, two of which came for a loss. He battled injuries throughout the night but fought through to make his fair share of plays.

Quick Thoughts

-The way the Jets performed in the final five minutes was flat out embarrassing. There is simply no other way to put it. All of New York’s incompetence came out at once and it cost Gang Green what was likely its best chance of winning a game in 2020.

-Why in the world is Flacco throwing deep into double coverage with a touchdown lead in the closing moments? Aren’t veteran quarterbacks supposed to be savvy and aware of what not to do in those situations? The Jets would not have been in this game if it weren’t for Flacco’s play, but he ultimately cost his team the game.

-Adam Gase and Dowell Loggains also deserve a heap of the blame for New York’s lack of execution down the stretch. Taking a shot downfield on a first down should not have even been on Loggains’ mind, yet he drew the play up anyway. Another week, another pitiful performance from the Jets’ shot callers.

-The Jets are 0-8, so naturally, they placed an emphasis on getting 37-year-old Frank Gore going early. They followed up that forward-thinking by punting on fourth-and-three from the Patriots’ 41 late in the first quarter. Those two decisions perfectly sum up New York’s 2020 season and how poorly the coaching staff has performed.

-Two more major negatives from Monday night’s win — losing Mekhi Becton and Brian Poole to injury. Hopefully, the two will benefit from the bye week and be back in action against the Chargers in Week 11.

-Wasn’t Pierre Desir signed to be a No. 1 corner? He has played more like a fringe roster player than a starter in 2020. At this point, it is practically tradition for the Jets to swing and miss on a top cornerback signing in free agency.

-Denzel Mims was a focal point of the Jets’ passing attack in the first half, yet saw only one target in the second. This is the third consecutive week that this has happened and, frankly, it is mind-boggling that New York is incapable of properly managing a rising star receiver.

-Bill Belichick continues to eat Gase’s lunch every time they square off. At least the two can share a laugh about it in the offseason when Gase is seeking new employment.

-Well, at least the Jets are still the front-runners to land Trevor Lawrence. New York has clearly embraced the tank and is dedicated to being the worst possible team on a weekly basis.

Ex-Jets DL Steve McLendon shines in Bucs debut

A week after being traded to Tampa Bay, former Jets DL Steve McLendon didn’t miss a beat, recording five total tackles in his Bucs debut.

Steve McLendon practiced just once with his new team this week, but it didn’t matter.

In his debut with the Bucs, McLendon recorded five total tackles, including a tackle for loss, in just 25 snaps. The 34-year-old immediately made his presence felt, as no interior defensive lineman on Tampa Bay’s roster has matched those numbers since Ndamukong Suh in Week 2.

McLendon didn’t miss a beat, making a seamless transition to Tampa Bay’s defense. It certainly helps that he is more than familiar with the scheme from his days with Todd Bowles and Kacy Rodgers in New York. That was certainly a factor in why the Bucs elected to acquire McLendon from the Jets last week.

While McLendon was making an impact for his new team, Foley Fataukasi saw a spike in playing time, playing 39 of New York’s 72 defensive snaps on Sunday. While the Jets’ decision to trade McLendon gave the veteran a chance to win, it also allows them to evaluate a player like Fatuakasi in a lost season, as New York dropped to 0-7 in Week 7.

Jets trade veteran DT Steve McLendon to Buccaneers

Following Sunday’s 24-0 loss, Joe Douglas was working the phones.

The Jets agreed to trade veteran defensive lineman Steve McLendon to the Buccaneers, as first reported by the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud. The Jets will get a sixth-round pick in 2022, while Tampa Bay will receive a seventh-round pick in 2023. McLendon, meanwhile, will reunite with Todd Bowles and Kacy Rodgers in Tampa Bay.

The Bucs will pick up the remainder of McClendon’s $1.25 million 2020 salary.

McLendon had been the heart and soul of the Jets defense and was one of the senior-most players on the team. With McLendon’s departure, the Jets have now lost another vocal leader in the locker room. His leadership was on full display this offseason, as he hosted teammates at his gym in Georgia while teams were attempting to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this point in his career, McLendon is a space-eater and run-stuffer; he’ll be more valuable on a team like Tampa Bay, which will be among the NFC’s top contenders going forward. The Buccaneers knocked off the Green Bay Packers 38-10 on Sunday afternoon.

McLendon played over 20 snaps in New York’s Week 6 loss and has a total of 14 tackles on the season. With the Jets now 0-6, it’s likely the Jets want to see more from Foley Fatukasi with the season already lost.

6 under the radar Jets with a huge opportunity this summer

Jets Wire takes a look at six Jets players currently flying under the radar who have an opportunity to prove their worth in training camp.

Opportunity will be aplenty when the Jets report to training camp in a couple of weeks.

Most of the focus throughout camp will center around battles for starting jobs. However, just because a player misses out on a starting job or is viewed more as a complementary piece than a primary option, that does not mean they cannot contribute in 2020.

With numerous starting jobs up for grabs in Jets camp, there will be a handful of players who end up No. 2 on the depth chart to begin the season and even more who are primed to contribute in secondary roles. Here are six Jets players flying under the radar entering training camp that have a major opportunity to prove their worth and establish their niche before Week 1 rolls around.

Vyncint Smith

No. 4 wide receivers typically don’t garner much attention or factor heavily into an offensive gameplan, but Vyncint Smith has what it takes to change that narrative this upcoming season.

Smith possesses the kind of electric skillset that can burn an opposing defense at any time. He has top-end breakaway speed and can do a lot to make defenders miss when he has the ball in the open field. The Jets seem set with Jamison Crowder, Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman as their three starting wideouts to begin the year, but it will be tough to keep Smith off the field knowing what he can bring to the table when given the opportunity to see the field.

The 2020 season has the makings of a breakout campaign for Smith. His chance to play will likely come in a complementary role, but that should be enough for him to make a difference.

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The biggest surprises from the Jets’ 2019 season

The Jets Wire listed players such as Foley Fatukasi and James Burgess as among the team’s biggest surprises from the 2019 season.

Sitting at 1-7 halfway through the season, it was surprising to see the Jets be relatively competitive down the stretch. It seemed as if New York was destined for another top-three selection.

Finishing 6-2 in the team’s final eight games, the Jets were able to go 7-9 in Adam Gase’s first season as head coach. Largely thanks to Gregg Williams and a contingent of unheralded defensive players, the Jets were able to play meaningful football toward the end of the season.

There were so many pleasant surprises for Gang Green in 2019 even if the year ended with the franchise’s ninth consecutive season of missing the playoffs. Some of those pleasant surprises who couldn’t crack this list include Nathan Shepherd, Tarell Basham, Brian Poole, Braxton Berrios and Vyncint Smith.

With that said, let’s take a look at the Jets’ biggest surprises from the 2019 season.

TE Ryan Griffin

Ryan Griffin was never supposed to be the Jets’ No. 1 option at tight end, but merely a placeholder for Chris Herndon.

When Herndon returned from his four-game suspension, he injured his hamstring and was then subsequently placed on injured reserve with a broken rib after being active for only two games.

Griffin managed to make the most of his opportunity despite dealing with an injury ailment of his own. He will be out six months after undergoing surgery to repair ligament damage in his ankle.

On the season, Griffin hauled in 34 receptions for 320 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games played. His five scores were a career-high. In Griffin, the Jets now have a viable No. 2 option at tight end who can be the perfect complement to Herndon.

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Gregg Williams working wonders with Jets’ makeshift defense

Gregg Williams has the best defense looking like one of the best in the league after holding the Raiders to three points in Week 12.

What defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been able to do with this Jets defense recently is nothing short of spectacular. On a team riddled by injury, underperformance, and inexperience, Williams has created a run-stopping machine that’s stymied opponents the past three weeks.

Yes, those opponents have included two rookie quarterbacks on inept offenses, but Williams is also working with a makeshift defense that includes several rookies and journeymen after losing two starting inside linebackers and two starting cornerbacks.

First, Williams lost Avery Williamson to an ACL tear. Then it was C.J. Mosley to a groin injury. Both were expected to solidify the middle of the defense. Next, promising rookie linebacker Blake Cashman hit injured reserve, followed by cornerback Trumaine Johnson. Various other players have missed time with injury, and before now the Jets are starting players no one had heard of before this season.

That defense, led by Jamal Adams and a bunch of backups, held the Raiders to only three points and 208 total yards on Sunday. In one word, the Jets’ 34-3 win over the Raiders was Williams’ masterpiece.

That performance was the culmination of weeks of momentum for Williams’ defense and the unit finally put together a complete game after giving up big, late scores the past two weeks. The 68 rushing yards the Jets allowed made for the fourth consecutive sub-100-yard game and eighth on the year. The Jets defense looked unbeatable against a Raiders team coming off three consecutive wins.

“We’ve been preparing well week in, week out. I just kind of think things are starting to go our way,” cornerback Brian Poole told SNY. “We’re a young defense going in the right direction.”

Poole himself is playing like one of the best cornerbacks in the league after the Jets signed him to a cheap one-year deal this offseason. His 15-yard pick-six sealed the blowout win, and he’s consistency graded as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. His ascension is just one of the many examples of how Williams is getting the most out of his players.

Players like rookie cornerbacks Bless Austin and Arthur Maulet have also played well above expectations over the past few games and they held Derek Carr to just 127 scoreless passing yards and a 52.6 passer rating in Week 12. Defensive linemen Foley Fatukasi and Kyle Phillips have been revelations after starting the season buried on the depth chart, and journeymen linebackers James Burgess, Neville Hewitt, Brandon Copeland and Tarrell Basham have put in solid performances.

None of these players were supposed to start except Poole. Yet, they’ve all played exceptionally well and helped turn the Jets into the best run-stopping team in the league. The Jets have allowed only 78.1 rushing yards per game after Week 12 – the fewest in the league – and less than three yards per rush attempt. Those are incredible numbers for a team that doesn’t have any discernable defensive stars except Adams, who Williams has weaponized into a terrifying pass rusher for the Jets.

The ability to turn role players into competent starters is great, but Williams’ ability to unlock another side of the Jets’ star safety is a testament to his skills as a coach. Adams now has a team-high 6.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits and has evolved into a multi-dimensional safety that could command a record-setting contract this offseason.

After this week’s performance, outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins was asked if the win validated the defense’s ability – a defense many left for dead as injuries and blowouts piled up.

“For us, not really,” Jordan Jenkins said. “For the public and some of the fans and some of the naysayers, I would agree with that. But we knew what we had.”

The Jets gave up an average of 27.7 points between Weeks 2 and 9. But during this three-game winning streak, they’ve allowed just 15.7. It took some time, but Williams finally has the Jets defense looking the way he intended when Adam Gase hired him to be the head coach of the defense.