They didn't get blown out this time but Adam Gase's Jets still managed to get utterly embarrassed, losing to the previously winless injury depleted Broncos, 37-28. If they had a chance to finally get a win, this was the game to do it. But it just wasn't meant to be. Denver, who averaged only 15 points per game prior to tonight's game, managed to score 37 against the undisciplined Jets defense. The Gang Green committed 11 penalties for 118 yards, including six personal fouls.
The Jets had their chances. They were trailing by 11 at the start of the final quarter but CB Pierre Desir's pick six put them right back in the game. Then, PK Sam Ficken scored his fifth field goal of the night, as the Jets took a 28-27 lead with a bit over six minutes left in the contest. What happened afterwards shouldn't really surprise anyone.
It looked like the Jets stopped the Broncos when DL Quinnen Williams sacked Rypien on a 3rd and 6 but an inexplicable face mask penalty gifted Denver a first down instead. The Broncos moved down the field and retook the lead, 30-28. The Jets subsequently moved to midfield where they turned it over on downs when Sam Darnold got sacked on a 4th and 3. The game still wasn't lost at that point. There was still two minutes left in the quarter and the Gang Green had two timeouts. The ensuing play, however, ended all Jets hopes. Melvin Gordon ran untouched for 43 yards straight to the Jets' end zone, 37-28.Game over? Well, not exactly. Adam Gase called his two remaining timeouts and DL Steve McLendon was penalized for roughing the passer while the Broncos were in the victory formation. Denver head coach Vic Fangio then told his team to avoid handshakes and go straight to the locker room. He didn't shake Gase's hand either.
The Jets have now started 0-4 for the second straight season, something they had never done before Gase was given the job. They did win 6 of last 8 games a year ago and managed to finish 7-9, mostly due to having a favorable weak schedule. This year's remaining schedule, however, has nine games against teams with winning records.
Jets CEO Christopher Johnson has already declared that Gase isn't going anywhere and will be given time to fix this mess. Johnson is either too stubborn to admit that the Gase hire was the worst since Rich Kotite or too dumb to see that this train wreck isn't going anywhere. The 2020 NY Jets will most likely finish the season with a worse record than what got Rex Ryan and Todd Bowles fired. Will a 4-12 record or worse finally lead to the dismissal of Gase? We can only hope. Just End The Suffering.