Did the New York Jets actually think they had a chance this season with Adam Gase? Their 2020 season was pretty much over before it had even begun with him at the helm. Would the team have enough talent to make up for their head coaching vulnerability?
New York Jets Fail to Launch
The New York Jets season began on the road in Buffalo against the Bills. Buffalo was all over the Jets from the opening kick off scoring 21 unanswered to start the game. The Bills did not look back from there, cruising to a 27-17 win. The Jets welcomed in the San Francisco 49ers for their Week 2 home opener. The 49ers suffered a ton of injuries during the game, but the Jets still couldn’t get anything going. San Francisco walked out beaten and battered but with a 31-13 win. The Jets then took a trip to Indianapolis for a game against the Colts. New York kept it close for the first quarter. The last three were a different story as they fell 36-7.
Jets Stay Stuck on the Tarmac
The New York Jets looked to get their first win of the season against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football in Week 4. The defense did its part by forcing multiple turnovers, but Melvin Gordon proved to be too good on this night. The Broncos got their first win in a 37-28 final. The Arizona Cardinals then come to Metlife Stadium for a Week 5 matchup. The Jets were without Sam Darnold for this game due to a shoulder injury. Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins could not be stopped on this day as they lit up the New York secondary for 131 yards and a touchdown. Arizona tripled up the Jets on the final scoreboard, 30-10. The Jets next found themselves playing the Miami Dolphins to try to end their losing streak. That was a pipe dream as the New York got shut out, 24-0.
New York Jets Out of Gas Already
The New York Jets looked to get their revenge on the Bills in a rematch from Week 1. Early on, it looked as though they might spring the upset on Buffalo. Josh Allen turned it around in the second half and Tyler Bass kicked six field goals to provide all 18 of the Bills’ points in an 18-10 victory. The Jets faced the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. Let’s just say it went about as one might have predicted.
With no wins through the firts half of the season, the Jets mathematical playoff hopes were already on the line. A loss against the New England Patriots was the final blow. New York looked good for the majority of this game up until the fourth quarter. The Patriots scored 13 unanswered points to win 30-27. The Jets were eliminated from contention before they even hit their bye week.
New York Jets Transform Planes Into Tanks
The New York Jets next limped across the country to take on the Los Angeles Chargers. The Bolts scored 24 unanswered in the 1st half and never not look back from there. Justin Herbert threw for 366 yards and 3 TDs as the Jets fell 34-28. In Week 12, the Jets hosted the Dolphins. This game went a little better than the first matchup between the teams as the Jets at least scored some points. Granted, it wasn’t many points. Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Miami defense were simply too much for the Jets to handle in a 20-3 defeat.
The Las Vegas Raiders were next on the radar when they came to the New York area in Week 13. The New York Jets actually had the lead late in this game even though Darren Waller had 200 yards receiving and two touchdowns. When it came down to it, the Jets just had to hold the Raiders out of the end zone for 30 seconds to get their first win of the season. Incredibly, they could not do it. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams sent a cover-0 blitz and Derek Carr found Henry Ruggs streaking down the sideline on a Hail Mary heave for the win.
The sting of that bad loss would roll into the following week when the Jets went to Seattle to play the Seahawks. New York let Russell Wilson cook to the tune of four scores in a 40-3 rout. But hey, at least they didn’t get shutout!
Even the Jets’ Tank Breaks Down
You would think that this sorry team would be able to keep their NFL Draft tank alive against the first-place team in the NFC West right? Not so fast! The New York Jets actually contained the Los Angeles Rams’ offense and sprung a massive 23-20 road upset. While the win erased the winless season, it also cost the Jets the right to the first overall draft pick.
The wide receiverless Cleveland Browns were next on the schedule. The Jets made the most of this fortunate break and did a good job of stopping the Browns’ rushing attack. New York got their second consecutive win, 23-16. This win ensured that the Jets would not get the first overall pick. The final game of the season against the Patriots was pretty much meaningless. The Patriots took the win in the end, 28-14.
Critical Offseason Ahead for the Jets
The Jets fired Adam Gase after the season so there is some hope for the future. New York currently owns the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. That could change if they decide to trade for Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson. The Jets don’t need help at the QB position, but it would be stupid not to try and get a player like Watson if the opportunity does in fact present itself. The future looks brighter for the Jets, but after a season like this, that’s not saying much.
