On Monday night the stage was set for the New York Jets to put on a big time performance to set the tone for the rest of the season. Well if Gang Green’s 10-9 loss to the Ravens is indicative of the rest of the season, fill up your coolers and break out the Rolaids as this is going to be a long one.
1) Jenkins hurt- Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins left the game due to a knee injury in the first quarter and did not return. Jenkins is scheduled to have an MRI on Tuesday and the team has not officially stated a timetable for his return.
2) Pathetic on offense- Lets throw some numbers at you : 1/11 on 3rd down, 6 (yes that is 6) first downs, 176 total yards, 60 net passing yards. Are you kidding me? This was one of the worst offensive performances in recent memory. The offensive line, which was once considered a strength of the team, was shaky at best. Alan Faneca anyone?
3) Sanchez handcuffed- The Ravens entered the game with a decimated secondary and for whatever reason the Jets failed to take advantage of it. Gang Green appeared to be in max protection and never made an concerted effort to push the ball down the field. It is one thing to keep the wraps on a young quarterback, another to completely handcuff him to the point where he is useless.
4) Rough start for Greene- Running back Shonn Greene fumbled the ball twice, losing it once on the Ravens 24 yard line. Not exactly what you are looking for from your starting back.
5) Lack of discipline- The Jets committed 14 penalties for 125 yards. There was a point in the game where Gang Green had more penalty yards than offensive yards. Pathetic. It is one thing to play physical and aggressive, another to play undisciplined and sloppy. 14 penalties is downright embarrassing.
6) Defense solid- The Jets defense went blow for blow with the Ravens, which is impressive considering they were on the field almost twice as long. Antonio Cromartie struggled at times with 4 penalties, but had a big interception that could have changed the momentum of the game. Bryan Thomas, Shaun Ellis, Bart Scott, and Jason Taylor all had solid games putting pressure on the quarterback and stuffing the run.
In summary this was a disappointing performance by the Jets. The offense was horrific and the team played undisciplined. Not exactly what you expect from a team with Super Bowl aspirations playing in front of their home fans. Next up for the Jets is the Patriots, which is almost nauseating to think about.