An absoultely awful Jets game

Jets vs. Bills 11/7/04

The Bills are a pretty good team despite their 2-5 record entering the game. They barely lost to the Jets in NJ a few weeks ago. On the other hand, the Jets were riding high after their complete victory over the Dolphins last Monday.

There was no doubt that this would be a tough game but with the strong defensive line of the Jets and their diversity of offensive tools, it looked like they would be able to prevail.

In the first quarter, K Doug Brien missed a 36 yd field goal. The winds were heavy but he just missed this FG. At this point, I just had a sense the game would be tough for the Jets, but they had moved the ball very well by attacking with the passing game. Next drive, ends in a Pennington fumble, and it is returned deep into Jets territory. Now the sense is even greater that the Jets need to put things together.

As it turns out, the half ends 10-10, but the Jets dodge a bullet when at 3rd and Goal with about 30 seconds left, Buffalo elects to spike instead of try a pass attempt into the end zone. Earlier in the second quarter the Jets executed a great drive from their 20 yd line for a TD. Maybe things are looking up.

But in the third quarter, the collapse begins. The Jets defense looks groggy and Buffalo takes advantage, with a 67 yd drive that takes about seven minutes. It's a great drive and QB Drew Bledsoe makes a critical play on third and long, when he eludes DE Shawn Ellis, avoids a sack and gets a first down. Buffalo scores on a great catch by WR Lee Evans. It's a good, solid drive.

The Jets get the ball and run four out of five rushing plays. Overall, they had not been moving the ball well on the ground and much better in the air. Not sure why they rushed the ball so much. But after Buffalo's next drive is stopped, it's a 3 and out for the Jets as well - you guessed it - two run plays and one pass play (on 3rd and 1, no less).

On to the fourth quarter, and here's where the house of horrors begins. The Jets run twice for -1 yds and QB Chad Pennington throws an interception on 3rd and 11. At this point, in the second half, this was Pennington's third pass attempt, out of eleven plays. Could we have gotten a little more balance? In the first half, Pennington was very accurate. Maybe something more here?

The INT led to a FG from Buffalo who has opened their lead to ten points (20-10). On their next drives, both teams punt and the Jets have the ball back at their 1/2 yard line, following a great punt by P Brian Moorman. First off, QB Quincy Carter shows up (it turns out Pennington had a shoulder injury) and the Jets try to run the ball up the middle out of the end zone with RB Curtis Martin and get totally stuffed for a safety (22-10, Buffalo).

The game now continues and after stopping the Bills, Quincy Carter throws a great pass to WR Santana Moss for a TD (22-17). The Jets are back in it with four minutes to go. But the defense can't make a stop on a critical 3rd and 8 and the game ends.

The Jets played a sloppy game (7 penalties for 40 yards, 2 turnovers) and also made some key mistakes.

But here's the sad thing. This game probably caps their season with a wildcard playoff berth and a first or second round playoff loss. Even if the Jets can keep pace (and that's unlikely) New England would still win the division unless they lost @ NY Jets on 12/26 AND lost to either Buffalo next week or @ Miami 12/20. Not likely. The fight for a wildcard won't be easy either.

I can live with the Pennington injury (that sort of thing happens), I can deal with the defensive lapses (sort of), and I can even deal with the missed 36 yard field goal. But when you add in the straight-up-the-middle rush from the half yard line in the context of not being able to rush the ball all day, then I get upset. Four pass attempts by Pennington in the second half out of fourteen plays is not acceptable. When this team can't run, they shouldn't be afraid to go to the pass. If Pennington, Moss and McCairens aren't good enough to help run the offense then the team needs to rework the entire unit.

Pennington's injury had better not be an excuse for the low number of pass attempts. If he can't pass then he shouldn't play, and if he got injured in the first quarter, then why was he able to pass so well in the second?

On a side note, despite hating the Patriots, it was pretty cool to see Vinitieri's great fake FG pass to Troy Brown. I wish I could have seen the look on Mike Martz's face.