Jet Up – Jets’ season ends before it even started

I’m calling it; The Jets are officially dead. After an embarrassing 23-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night football, the New York Jets look at themselves in the mirror and see a completely broken team.

Sam Darnold is out for multiple weeks with mono, Trevor Siemian had 3 passing yards before he exited Monday’s game with what looked to be a broken ankle, and Luke Falk came in and performed well considering the circumstances. However, hanging your hopes on a third string quarterback isn’t a good way to go through life.

In addition to the quarterback fiasco, the defense gave up an 89 yard touchdown to former Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., left Baker Mayfield alone in the pocket for drives at a time, and their defensive leader, Jamal Adams, unfollowed the Jets’ Instagram account on Tuesday morning.

The Jets were not a good team going into the season, but there was hope. There was a new toy for Sam Darnold in All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell, who was coming off a whole year off refreshed and recharged. The defense was looking young and hungry, and although they had a tough schedule, could at least make incremental steps forward.

Instead everything has been thrown into disarray due to them being on their third string quarterback, and although they’re obviously not out of the playoffs yet, have their fate sealed due to their upcoming schedule.

Next week they have a matchup with the New England Patriots, who look to be a Super Bowl favorite once again and who will eat up Luke Falk. After a bye week they have the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys and then the New England Patriots again.

This week they showed nothing to prove why they would be able to upset any of these teams. The defense applied almost zero pressure (except in garbage time) on the Browns. Most of their plays were done after the game was already over, including an interception in the fourth quarter.

The offense couldn’t get anything going all night, with or without Trevor Siemian. Le’Veon Bell was the saving grace for Luke Falk, continuing to work the chains even when there was no running room available. One of the only positives to come from this game is that when Luke Falk was able to throw the ball down the field, he was pretty accurate, completing 20 of 25 passes for 198 yards.

Even with Falk showing some kind of competence and Sam Ficken hitting the lone field goal attempt for the Jets, this team was never in Monday night’s game against the Browns. They lost by 20 points to an overhyped team.

So in essence, the season is over before it started. Le’Veon Bell is the only competent weapon on this team due to the lack of quarterback (not because of Robbie Anderson or Jamison Crowder). The defense isn’t nearly as dynamic as advertised, and Leonard Williams has all but disappeared on the defensive line.

Can things get any better? Possibly, as Head Coach Adam Gase could let Luke Falk loose instead of calling an extremely conservative game. Who knows, maybe the defense will wake up. Regardless of what can happen, it’s an uphill climb for a team already a little short on talent. The Jets are trying their best, but the season is all but done.