How do you lose a 14-0 lead? How do you make a mediocre QB look like the next Joe Montana? Just ask the Jets, they will tell you the answers!
It all looked good for the Gang Green in the 2nd quarter when they took a 14-0 lead, following two rushing touchdowns by RB Curtis Martin. On the next possession the Ravens gained just 2 yards and went 3 and out for the second time in a row. Two plays later QB Quincy Carter connected with WR Santana Moss on a 47-yard bomb and the Jets found themselves comfortably in field goal range, looking at a 17-0 lead at least heading into halftime. 1st and 10 at the Ravens' 17-yard line, less than two minutes to go in the first half, you have a 14-0 lead and the opposing offense has shown absolutely nothing so far, so what do you do? Well, if you're Paul Hackett, you decide to throw a RB option pass. Remember the game in Detroit in 1997 and Leon Johnson's pass that was picked off in the end zone? Well, it was deja vu all over again. Only this time it was RB LaMont Jordan whose pass was intercepted and returned deep into the Jets territory, instantly putting the Ravens back in the game. Less than a minute later the Ravens scored and cut the lead to 14-7.
It only went downhill from that point on. The Jets came out with a totally conservative game plan in the second half and went 3 and out on three of their six second half possessions. Meanwhile, the Ravens cut the lead to 14-10 and scored a touchdown late in the 4th quarter to take a 17-14 lead. The Jets, however, managed to answer. With a bit over 4 minutes left on the game clock they finally sustained their first and only scoring drive of the second half. First, Carter found WR Justin McCareins on a crucial 3rd and 7, and then Martin added a 21-yard gain up the middle, moving the Gang Green to the Ravens' 17-yard line. There was still 2 minutes to go in the 4th quarter and only 17 yards to win this game. Sounds like an easy task, right? Wrong! It's the New York Jets we are talking about here, it's the team that always can find a way to screw things up. It was Martin to the right for a gain of 5, it was Martin up the middle for a one yard loss, and the Jets found themselves facing yet another 3rd and long. Paul Hackett called a quarterback draw and Carter easily gained 9 yards, along with a first down at the Baltimore 4 yard line. Still 55 seconds to go, only 4 yards from the goal line and the Jets have two timeouts. It took the Jets 37 (!!!) seconds to finally run the next play that gained only 1 yard, moving the Jets to the 3-yard line with just 14 (!!!) seconds remaining in the quarter. The Jets took a timeout, ran another play that took 6 seconds off the clock and were facing yet another 3rd down - 3rd and 3 with just 14 seconds to go. There was still plenty of time to run two plays, right? Wrong! Remember it's the New York Jets we are talking about! The Gang Green burned another timeout and was forced to settle for a game-tying field goal, 17-17.
If you think Paul Hackett was too conservative in the second half, then you haven't seen what conservative really is. The Jets won the coin toss and chose to receive (at least Herm didn't select the wind this time). Three plays, 4 yards, punt. The Jets defense held up, forcing the Ravens to punt as well. Hackett's answer? You guessed it! Three plays, 7 yards, another punt. The Ravens weren't going to give Hackett and Herm anymore chances, as they easily drove inside the Jets territory and in field goal range. 20-17! Not in favor of the New York Jets....
Different fans have different opinions - some can blame Carter for not playing like Peyton Manning, some can blame the defense that at times looked like it was a high school unit, or some can blame Paul Hackett and his ridiculous playcalling. I will always put the blame on Herman Edwards. I don't know what excuses are left out there for his inability to manage the game clock. It's been four years and we still witness the same idiotic mistakes with clock management. It's been four years and this team still hasn't learned how to play all four quarters. You can blame Hackett for the dreadful performance on offense, but it's Herm who hired him in the first place. He's simply an average, mediocre coach. Yes, the Jets are 6-3 and they might even make the playoffs this season, but that's where it's going to end for Herm's team. If you're happy with a 9-7, 10-6 season, then you certainly can be happy with Herm and you can consider him a good head coach. If you want a Super Bowl win, then you have to realize that coaches who make the same stupid mistakes for 4 years in a row just don't go all the way, as simple as that. Commitment to mediocrity is what Herman Edwards really is.