Jets Enter the “Darkness” as Football in New York City Sinks
As the dust settles on a spectacular baseball season. The Yankees made it to the World Series (a series they can still win, even down 0-2); and the Mets gave fans one of the best seasons in a long time, fans are left to gaze upon the state of football in the Tri-State area.
And it doesn’t look good.
- The Jets were supposed to be a “Super Bowl” team. They are 2-6.
- The Giants had low expectations, and they’ve matched them as they sit at 2-5, en route to 2-6 after Monday’s game in Pittsburgh.
- Rutgers was coming off a Bowl win in 2023 and had higher expectations in 2024. They are 4-4 in the midst of a four-game skid.
Yes, things are not looking up on the gridiron. And it didn’t get any better on Sunday when Gang Green couldn’t beat the lowly 1-6 New England Patriots, falling 25-22 up in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The Jets were a -7.0 point favorite entering Sunday’s action, but couldn’t find a way to build any form of momentum against the Patriots.
The same problems that befell them all season did so again. The Jets abandoned the run before kick-off; Aaron Rodgers struggled to hit open receivers, and the Jets were littered by a confluence of poor decision-making (calling all three time-outs in the first quarter), and a lack of discipline (eight penalties for 55 yards).
Still, the Jets held a miraculous 22-17 lead with 2:57 to play in the game, but it proved to be more than enough time for the Patriots and their veteran back-up quarterback Jacoby Brissett to stage a late rally.
The same Jacoby Brissett the Jets sacked seven times five weeks ago.
Only this time the Jets defense wasn’t there. The Patriots converted big play after big play, highlighted by two spectacular catches by Kayshon Boutte, who brought New England to the Jets’ one-yard line. That set up Rhamondre Stevenson with the game-winning score.
When it was all said and done, all interim Head Coach Jeff Ulbrich and quarterback Aaron Rodgers could offer was that the Jets had entered a “moment of darkness.”
Unfortunately for the Jets the clock is ticking. At 2-6, New York’s hopes at a postseason berth are all but shot before Halloween no less.
Many have already labeled the 2024 Jets one of the worst teams money could buy, and one of the biggest failed experiments in sports history. Think along the lines of the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving mess in Brooklyn the past couple of years.
Rodgers has taken most of the arrows from the public and press. Yes, he’s playing hurt with various leg injuries, but his play and leadership just haven’t been good enough.
The Jets bent over backward to accommodate him, to the point they traded a third-round pick to bring in his best friend Devante Adams, and absorb his contract. So far through two games, Adams has only seven catches.
But is it really all the fault of Rodgers, or the Jets coaching, or kicker Gregg Zuerlein, who has missed six field goals? Sure it hasn’t helped, but the Jets’ decline was expedited when owner Woody Johnson decided to fire Robert Saleh following the Jets’ trip to the United Kingdom. Since that time, the Jets’ execution has only gotten worse.
Now they sit at 2-6 with an uncertain future.
NEW YORK GIANTS LOOK STABLE
At least the Giants, who have been wallowing in last place all season in the NFC East have something of a direction.
Owner John Mara gave GM Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll the dreaded vote of confidence. Saying he doesn’t envision making any swift changes during or after the season. It sounds like both are safe, even if Big Blue finishes at 4-13 for example.
Still, this is the same group that gave Daniel Jones a four-year deal, and let Saquon Barkley walk.
If the Giants part ways with Jones in the off-season, they will be looking for the next franchise quarterback, who might come in the draft. One would think that Schoen and Daboll at least have the upper hand here thanks to ownership’s endorsement. A head start on 2025 helps.
You can’t say the same for the Jets, who could be looking at a new front office and head coach come February.
