I hope it was worth it.
No NFL fan had high expectations for the 0-11 New York Jets heading into this past Sunday’s matchup with the Raiders. Nobody would have blamed this historically bad team for mailing it in and getting blown out of MetLife Stadium by Las Vegas with no resistance.
The Jets have long been out of the playoff conversation and clearly have their sights set on the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and the chance to draft Trevor Lawrence. The only player interested in winning any football games is 37-year-old fossil Frank Gore.
So just lose the game. #ProTank.
What the Jets did instead was just straight up criminal.
DEREK CARR TO HENRY RUGGS FOR THE LEAD ?
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 6, 2020
(via @Raiders)pic.twitter.com/x76T8mzZHX
Up four. 13 seconds left. Derek Carr and the Raiders were at midfield and had no timeouts left. ANY tackle after a catch in bounds would have ended the game. Instead, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and the Jets send an all-out blitz that doesn’t get home and rookie corner Lamar Jackson bites on a double-move by one of the fastest WRs in the NFL. Now the Jets are 0-12.
This is what the organization and the fanbase wanted though, right? Keep losing and hold on to the number one pick. Hit the reset button at QB, since it’s becoming clear Sam Darnold isn’t the guy.
Not quite. The New York Jets have crossed the line. And that’s saying something.
Plenty of teams have tanked for better draft picks before. But the Jets’ approach this season, in this game, is impossible to root for.
Gase Has Lost the Locker Room
Seemingly fireproof, head coach Adam Gase just got done talking to the media about failing to develop Darnold. Gase has failed all of his young players. Rookie WR Denzel Mims still can’t buy a second-half target. Gore had to concuss himself before the Jets would commit to running the ball with younger backs. I was convinced he wanted to see stud rookie LT Mekhi Becton’s arm fall off in-game against Denver in Week 4 when he played him with an injured shoulder.
And these are the foundational pieces that are the only source of hope for Jets fans in the future. They played their asses off against the Raiders, including Darnold, who despite a turnover-filled second quarter, led two touchdown drives in the fourth to put his team ahead late after being down two scores to begin the quarter.
Becton mauled guys in the running game to the tune of over 200 yards rushing for Darnold and RBs Ty Johnson and Josh Adams. Mims had his sixth-straight 40+ yard game and saw the endzone for the first time (on a two-point conversion).
Add in some key contributions from veterans like FS Marcus Maye, and the Jets did everything they needed to do to win. And when you have the chance, tank or not, you reward this type of effort with a win. I don’t care who the top QB prospect is.
In terms of pure “how the f*** do you let that happen?” factor, this may be the worst loss in Jets history.
It’s hard to argue that the Jets did not flat-out throw this game at the end. You saw signs they’re not above it with their awful final-drive play calling when they got just a little too close to beating the Patriots in Week 9, and nearly came back to beat the Chargers in Week 11. You could deny those were intentional tank jobs, until you saw the play against the Raiders.
One Shot, One Opportunity
So there’s no turning back now Jets. You definitely can’t convince Maye you’re trying to win any games.
You sold every player on the team and the entire fanbase that you’re all in on Trevor Lawrence, no matter what. Nothing else matters. And you have to be, he’s the best quarterback prospect to come out of college since Andrew Luck.
I’m sure no one ever thought that about Sam Darnold.
The New York Jets are a franchise quarterback away from contending according to the way they’ve chosen to throw this season. There are no other holes on the team. They wouldn’t benefit at all from drafting better offensive linemen, a dynamic receiver, or that ever-elusive edge rusher for their defense. They just need Trevor Lawrence. If you’re selling out to get embarrassed at 0-16 for the sake of drafting a quarterback, that’s what you must believe.
Trevor Lawrence will win Super Bowls on his rookie contract with the Jets, or this will all be for nothing.
Losses like this will all be for nothing.
I hope it was worth it.
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