N.Y. Jets: All Systems Maybe

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

THE LOSER BOWL

DENVER BRONCOS

vs.

NEW YORK JETS

FROM

WINLESS STADIUM

Jets Looking To Avoid Second Straight 0-4 Start

Can the broken Jets defeat the busted up Broncos?

Great thing about the Loser Bowl is that someone must win.  Then again, maybe not.  There is always the chance of a tie.  Just ask the Eagles.  With the way the Jets and Broncos are going nothing is out of the question.

Jamison Crowder might be back, but will he be effective?  Practice means little.  You just can not simulate real game muscle action and reaction unless someone is getting paid to oppose, stop and hit you.

If the Jets have done anything well - and that's a relative term - they've run the ball somewhat effectively.  Why not reverse roles and instead of making Darnold - still playing without a full compliment of weapons - throw 35 times and limiting the backfield to just 21 rushes, stick with the run  35 times and limit Darnold's throws.  Put the ball in Frank Gore's hands and let him run to daylight and kill the clock.  After the Bills game, the Jets improved time of possession by a full ten minutes.  Why?  Because they only rushed 14 times against Buffalo.  Correlation?  You tell me.

It's wrong to blame Sam Darnold for this team's woes.  How about you let him call a damn audible, will ya?!  This is about quarterback development, not holding him back when faced with - I don't know - eleven people getting paid to make him play badly.  Are you not teaching him how to read and react, or are you (Adam Gase) giving Darnold the old Nancy Reagan and just saying no?  

By the way, I wonder how practice went this week?

Practice?

The Broncos decimated by injuries are starting third string quarterback Brett Rypien.  This will be his first NFL start.  If defensive coordinator Gregg Williams doesn't devise something appropriate for the situation, well, what is there to say ...

All still falls on Adam Gase.  Should the Jets lose, how does a de facto owner suddenly gifted with incredible football executive insight and ability not reconsider his stance?  

T-minus four hours to take-off.