Jets Drowned by the Fish, Petty Injured

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 17: Bryce Petty #9 of the New York Jets walks off the field after getting injured on a tackled by Cameron Wake #91 of the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on December 17, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

The New York Jets lost a big AFC East showdown to the Miami Dolphins, 34-13, at MetLife Stadium Saturday night.

The Jets had a opportunity to shatter the Dolphins playoff hopes with a win and it looked like that may happen early on when New York opened the game with a couple of good drives. One ended with a 40-yard Robby Anderson touchdown pass.

The first half was back and forth, but the Jets looked very good on both sides of the ball. However, they would then come out of halftime as a different team. The Jets let the game get out of hand early in the second half as Miami was able to run down the field with a couple of back-to-back explosive plays. These plays included an 11-yard return blocked punt by Miami’s special teams unit and a Jarvis Landry 66-yard slant touchdown. Landry showed his former LSU teammate, Odell Beckham Jr, . that he is not the only wide receiver that can score on a quick slant pass. As soon as you know it, the Jets were looking up at a four possession game and there is no play in the Jets offensive playbook that could get all of these points back in a hurry.

The Jets looked flat after halftime and that is a draw of concern considering they were only a touchdown away from taking the lead late in the first half. The offense did not move the ball very well as Bryce Petty threw two interceptions that killed many of the Jets drives. The defense did not cover very well in the second half as they let runners run deep into the secondary and get past them which caused trouble.

Bowles on whether the Jets had blown coverages on defense, “They weren’t blown coverages. People just got beat.”

Petty had a decent game before he was forced out with an injury after being sandwich by Miami defensive players when the offensive line failed to protect him. Petty threw for 235 yards, was 20/36 passing, had one touchdown and two interceptions. He would be replaced by Ryan Fitzpatrick as he saw his way to the field once again for the Jets. Coach Bowles said that the results were negative and that Petty will have more tests tomorrow.

Bilal Powell had another good game as he recorded 10 catches for the Jets.

After having a walk-off win last week against San Francisco, the Jets lost another game at home in blowout fashion. The Jets have many questions following this game on both offense and defense. The secondary has shown that they still can not defend tight ends as Miami’s Dion Sims had 52 yards receiving on four receptions and two touchdowns.

The Jets need to get better as a team and they need to consider revamping the entire secondary going into next season as well as revamping the offensive line which played a bad game against the Dolphins. Petty played a decent game and whether the results come back negative for him he should be expected to finish the season out under center for the Jets.

The same question remains after this game and that is whether Todd Bowles job is secure or not. Jets owner Woody Johnson said a couple weeks ago that Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan jobs were safe for 2017, but does this loss change that at all?

Most fans think so, but Bowles will get at least another season to come up with a plan to make the Jets a winner again. The fans may be talking about Bowles job security, but Bowles is certainly not worried.

“I don’t worry about my job security. It falls on me when I signed my contract,” said Bowles. Bowles also said when questioned about whether his team was prepared or not, “They were prepared. When we play like that, it all falls on me. It starts at the top. I have to do a better job and they have to do a better job. But, it starts with me.”

The Jets fall to 4-10 on the season as Miami improved to 9-5 and moved one step closer to a playoff berth for the first time since 2006. The Jets next will travel to New England to face the Patriots on Christmas Eve at 1 P.M.