The New York Jets will likely end the season with a worse record than last despite the sky-high hopes of having the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, Sam Darnold, under center. The former USC star hardly improved the quarterback position after supplanting veteran Josh McCown to start the season in posting stats that were inferior to his now backup. Consider that McCown ended the 2017 season with 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions for 2926 passing yards in 13 games, and a 67.3 completion percentage. Darnold has one game left to play but entering Week 17 his stat sheet reads as follows: 17 passing touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 2698 passing yards, and a 57.8 percent completion percentage.
Disappointing but not altogether devastating as Darnold has, at times, flashed the enormous potential that got him selected as the third pick in the 2018 draft. As the Jets prepare for their final game of the season, the best online sportsbooks have New York tagged as 13 ½ point underdogs against the Patriots in Foxboro. Oh, and if point spreads and sports betting mystifies you then we suggest you click on over to Sportsbook Review where they have an easy to read how to bet guide that will assist even the most novice bettor looking to wager on the NFL or any other sport for that matter.
As much as we may hope and pray for an upset this week, our eyes tell us that the talent gap between these two clubs is still substantial despite New England’s dynasty showing signs of aging. Unless the Jets shock the Patriots, we can comfortably assume New York will end with a 4-12 record which will likely put them in the No. 3 spot, trailing only Oakland and San Francisco. There is also a remote chance that Gang Green could land the No. 1 slot but that has about a three-percent chance of happening as Arizona would have to stun Seattle and San Francisco needs to pull an upset over the LA Rams. Yeah, chances are slim and none and Slim just left town.
Losing on Sunday would make the Jets a winner as they would be able to draft a stud offensive lineman like Bama’s Jonah Williams or select a defensive chaos-maker like Nick Bosa of Ohio State, Josh Allen of Kentucky, or even a steel wall in the trenches like the Crimson Tide's Quinnen Williams. The fact of the matter is that the Jets need more talent all over the board but if they could give Darnold more protection up front, he will be less likely to serve up the many interceptions we have seen him toss this season.
New York does not have a second-round pick due to their trade up to get Darnold but that could be remedied if they package a few assets and swap with another team that has more than their fair share of draft picks in the spring. Darnold appears as though he is assimilating to the pro game and his confidence is building as evidenced by his six touchdowns to just one interception and a nearly 66 percent completion rate over his last three games. It's all good news for Jets' fans who have been praying for a quarterback savior for lo these many years.
Jets' linebacker Avery Williamson had this to say about the blossoming Darnold.
"I feel like Sam's growing up a lot. That's a real good sign when your quarterback seems to take steps and elevate his game. I feel like he's definitely getting better, and it's good that he’s ending the season strong. I feel like he's going to be a force next year."
Let's give Williamson an amen and hallelujah, because we may just need a little divine intervention in next April's draft if the ascension of Sam Darnold is to continue.