N.Y. Jets: Flying High After Overtime Victory Against Titans

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK FOUR

Titans  24

JETS    27

OVERTIME

Zack Wilson Has His Moon Landing

Sunday's victory over the Titans was impressive in so many ways.  

Still playing minus Mekhi Becton, the offensive line did a stellar job of protecting their rookie quarterback, yielding just one sack for eight yards.  Tennessee managed just one other QB hit.  Linebacker Harold Landry III accounted for both plays.  Otherwise, Zack Wilson remained untouched.

In return, Wilson led the Jets in a second-half comeback with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, first to Jamison Crowder on second and goal from the three, then to Corey Davis for 53-yards.  It gave the Jets a 24-17 lead.  

In overtime, Zack led the Jets on a 13-play 71-yard drive resulting in the decisive field goal.  He completed four of six attempts for 57 yards on connections for nine, 29, eleven, and eight yards, respectively.  

Corey Davis caught four of seven targets for a game-high 111 yards, and Jacksonville castoff Keelan Cole secured three of four targets for 92 yards.  That's two receivers for two hundred yards - Boom!

Rush Hour

The Jets perhaps rushed the ball better during that overtime drive than they did all game.  Interspersed in Zack Wilson's heroics, the Jets ran five times, four times for positive rushes of two, eight, five, and two yards.  Otherwise, the Jets backfield rushed twenty times for 53 yards.  Braxton Berrios (receiver) added 15 yards on two attempts.  Overall, the Jets ran for just four first downs.  One came in the overtime drive, and on a 2nd and ten, they rushed for eight yards to make it third and short.  On the very next play, Zack Wilson connects with Keelan Cole for 29 yards.

Williams & Williams, & Co.

Brothers Quinnen and Quincy Williams join together for 19 tackles and total disruption of Ryan Tannehill and the Titans' offense.  Quincy had ten solo tackles and one sack, Quinnen made six solo tackles with two sacks and two other QB hits, and C.J. Mosley was simply out of control.  All told, the Jets sacked Ryan Tannehill seven times with 14 other QB hits.  

Sure Tannehill still threw for nearly 300 yards, and Derrick Henry ran for 157 yards ...

But, hey, the Jets win!

Congratulations, Robert Saleh.

N.Y. Jets: Way To Go, Guys!

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

"TRAP GAME ALERT!!  The Jets this season have lost by at least seventeen points on seven different occasions.  They've similarly been held to ten points or less seven times.  Adam Gase said he has failed Christopher Johnson.  Perhaps, there is still more he can do - like screwing up the Jets chances at the number one overall pick with an upset victory against the Rams!  Only then will his failure be complete" - My Pigskin Picks: Week Fifteen 

Jets       23

Rams     20

FINAL

First off, the Rams suck!  If you follow my Pigskin Picks, you know that I've been calling them a paper tiger all season.  The Jets didn't win this game; the Rams lost it - buncha scrubs.

But leave it up to the Jets to essentially ruin their shot at the number one overall pick in next year's draft.  After all their futility and hard work, now they wanna win!?  They will need an awful lot of help over the next two weeks from the Jacksonville Jaguars to regain their standing as the worst team in the NFL.  

However, this colossal screw up is not on Adam Gase - not this time.  He gets paid to coach football games and was just doing his job.  It's the general manager's job to furnish the coach with players, or not (just ask John Idzik).  That said, full blame should be placed on Joe Douglas for not telling Adam Gase to "cleverly and descretely" bench some of his starters.  Yeah, that's right.  Douglas is the phantom menace.  Don't let Frank Gore rush the ball 23 times; don't target Jamison Crowder six times.  As a general manager, all you have to say to the league and media is you're evaluating talent.  

What else is there after losing thirteen straight games ...

The one time when the Jets absolutely, positively, need a loss, they go and beat the Rams.

They were 17 1/2 point underdogs.

Ponderous!

Just like last season, this victory is too little and comes way too late.  Gang Gase started last season losing seven of their first eight games before rallying to win six of their last eight.  The Jets now improve to 8-22 under Adam Gase and may very well have jeopardized another decade of Jets football.

His failure is indeed complete.

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.

N.Y. Jets: Terrible Is As Terrible Does

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

The End Zone Might As Well Be Outer Space

WEEK THREE

Jets      7

Colts  36

FINAL

Three Times is Officially a Trend

Yes, that plane falling out of the sky has a Jets logo on it ..

Through three weeks the Jets are allowing more, more and more points, while scoring less, less and less.

• I - Bills 27; Jets 16
• II - 49ers 31; Jets 13 
• III - Colts 36; Jets 7

Without Le'Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder, Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman, and playing behind a compromised offensive line, Sam Darnold is progressively getting worse, worse and worse.

• I - 215 passing yards; one INT
• II - 179 passing yards; 0 INT
• III - 168 passing yards; three INT; two pick-six

 

Take away Darnold's two INT's returned for touchdowns and the Jets are still nowhere near competitive.  In that case make it a 24-9 loss.  That's still more than two touchdowns.  The defense generated no sacks and just one QB hit.  When a 40-yard kick return is your best play of the day, something is very wrong.  Said another way, just about every facet of Adam Gase's operation is failing.  Once again they're increasingly becoming an embarrassment on the field.  No hint of polish exists anywhere on this team, even when healthy.  Now, mimicking last year's undercurrent, a growing number of players are complaining practices are not effective nor intense enough.  That speaks to a broader range of staff-wide responsibilities and shortcomings beyond just the head coach.  Yet, Christopher Johnson left off saying Gase is absolutely the right guy for the job.  That leaves general manager Joe Douglas stuck in the middle, which is a condition that has hampered the Jets going back to Woody Johnson.  If this keeps up the Jets are headed towards next year's NFL draft with the number one overall pick.  Can Joe Douglas really afford to have that selection playing under Adam Gase?  At some point the general manager will need to put his foot down on the matter and override everyone, namely Christopher.  Should Joe Douglas receive any resistance he should quit on the spot.

N.Y. Jets: Coach Gase Rewards Owner's Confidence With Another Loss

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK TWO

Niners    31

Jets        13

FINAL

Adam Gase : Christopher Johnson :: Rich Kotite : Leon Hess

Back to the hangar ...

Just days after Christopher Johnson reiterates his full endorsement of Adam Gase, the Jets come apart on the tarmac.  But according to Christopher Johnson, Gase is the right man to pick up the pieces and assemble them back together again.  In any other organization an owner's reassurance so early in the season is usually a kiss of death.  But with regards to the Jets, Christopher Johnson actually believes this and thus remains the poster child for novice superintendence at the highest order.  The situation is fast approaching the Rich Kotite and Leon Hess levels of incompetence - if Gase and CJ haven't surpassed it already.

If nothing else, the Jets offense is proving consistently inept.  The Jets had eleven drive opportunities against the Bills in which they generate 254 total yards on 53 total plays.  Le'Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder were both out of Sunday's game.  Therefore, Sam Darnold's top weapons were Frank Gore and Chris Hogan.  The Jets again have eleven drive opportunities against the Niners and similarly generate 277 total yards on 62 total plays.  Through two games Jets opponents have gained 763 total yards and scored 58 points.  The Jets have managed just 531 yards and 30 points. 

What do you suppose awaits the Jets when they touch down in Indianapolis on Sunday?

As Adam Gase's play calling goes, so goes Sam Darnold.  We learned after Sunday's game that Sam was not allowed to audible out of a particular fourth down play.  That's what I call development!  Why not just duct tape the third year quarterback to a chair ...

Sam Darnold through Week Two

• vs. BUFF - 21/35 for 215 yards, one TD, one INT.
• vs. S.F. - 21/32 for 179 yards, one TD, no INT.  

At least Joe Douglas' reconstructed offensive line had a better game.  Against Buffalo the Jets rush 14 times for just 46 yards and allow three sacks.  On Sunday they rush 27 times for 97 yards and allow one sack.  Good back up effort from Frank Gore who rushed 21 times for 63 yards.  Through two games he has rushed 27 times for 87 yards.

The Jets can claim some progress.

Or not ...

PIGSKIN 2020: Week Two

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Two

RESULTS

Week One

SCOREBOARD:

Week One Record:  8-5-1
Overall Record:  8-5-1
Schmear of the Week:  1-0
Bagels in the Basket:  +5

1st and Ten

• Ten fans who attended the NFL opener between Kansas City and Texas have been ordered to quarantine.
• MNF: Saints @ Raiders, opening game at Las Vegas.
• Rocky Squirrel and Simon Bar Sinister meet again; Carroll vs. Belichick.

2nd and Short

• Second week straight all teams test negative for COVID. 😷
• Le'Veon Bell's second season with the Jets is off to another miserable start.  

No Gain

• Tom Brady is 0-1 as a Buccaneer; played like crap.  Bruce Arians doesn't sugarcoat his performance to the press.
• Carson Wentz is sacked eight times and hit another fifteen times by the team with no name.
• No change with the D.C. WTF's
• Mike McCarthy's first game as head coach of Dallas.

PUNT!

• Christopher Johnson reiterates his full faith in Adam Gase.

WEEK TWO

Friday Line NYDN

Niners -7 JETS

Joe Douglas' revamped offensive line last week looked broken.  Sam Darnold did some smart things and not so smart things.  But who will he be throwing to?  Jamison Crowder is out; Le'Veon Bell is out.  Jets will be making a go of it with Sam Darnold, Chris Hogan and Frank Gore.  Any help TE Chris Herndon provides will be greatly appreciated.  Oh, and if anything happens to Darnold, Joe Flacco is out as well.  Niners lost a tough division game against the Cardinals and will be looking to even out.  CB Richard Sherman was placed on IR.

WIN 31-13 Niners

Giants +4 1/2 BEARS

Mitch Trubisky last week against the Lions pulled one out of his posterior.  I heard the word clutch being tossed around, but I'm not buying that.  The Giants meanwhile made a decent go of it against the Steelers.  Pittsburgh bottled up the Giants run game.  Expect a better game from Saquon Barkley and the offensive line.  The biggest matchup of the game pits Khalil Mack against rookie left tackle Andrew Thomas.  Looking for OC Jason Garrett to keep expanding the Daniel Jones/Darius Slayton connection.

WIN 17-13 Bears

Rams -1 1/2 EAGLES

Philly is still trying to figure out what hit them.  Now here comes Aaron Donald.  The No Names totaled eight sacks last week and eighteen other QB hits.  Can't see the Eagles starting 0-2, but with that offensive line they're gonna do just that.  Rams victory over the Cowboys influences this pick.  Forget the jet lag, lay the points.

WIN 37-19 Rams

STEELERS -7 1/2 Broncos

Big Ben seemed to dust off the rust rather quickly against the Giants.  Steelers will be a top contender this season.  Broncos will suffer same fate as Giants; no running game and a loss.

Loss 26-21 Steelers

FALCONS +5 Cowboys

Despite good production from Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys fall to the Rams.  Falcons yield four TD passes last week by Russell Wilson.  Dak Prescott must be chomping at the bit.  But this isn't the Cowboys offensive line we remember and their defense still has to stop Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. 

WIN 40-39 Cowboys

BUCCANEERS -9 Panthers

Tom Brady will not be throwing two INTs again.  Bucs defense should be able to contain Teddy Bridgewater.  If they don't something went really wrong.  The Raiders rushed right through Carolina in week one.

WIN 31-17 Bucs

Bills -5 1/2 DOLPHINS

Ryan Fitzpatrick can sometimes be a real pain in the posterior.  So, let's be clear: Bill Belichick intercepted Fitz three times last week, Fitz didn't throw three interceptions.  There's a difference.  The Fish are back in their element.  But you don't think they're gonna beat the Bills, do you?  Buffalo is my lock of the week.

Loss 31-28 Bills

COLTS -3 Vikings

Philip Rivers had a big game last week, and should have another this week against the Vikings.  It's actually rather ponderous the Colts lost last week against the Jaguars.  The Colts did not punt once.  Packers lit up the Vikes for 43 points.  Rivers may come close.

WIN 28-11 Colts

PACKERS -6 Lions

No confidence in the Lions defense.  Packers won't put up forty points, but should cover against a suspect Lions secondary.

WIN 42-21 Packers

Jaguars +9 TITANS

Stay away!  Jaguars aren't as good as they looked against the Colts and the Titans aren't as bad as they looked against the Broncos.  Defeating the Broncos is no great feat.  I look for the Titans to win, but not cover.  They are notorious slow starters.  Although, once they get going they can dominate.  They can easily win by ten.  But are they awake yet?  I dread this pick.

WIN 33-30 Titans

No Name +7 CARDINALS

I admit the WTF's grabbed my attention last week; eight sacks and fifteen QB hits against the Eagles.  They were down seventeen points in the first half and still won.  I'm just looking for No Name to cover, not win.

Loss 30-15 Cardinals

Ravens -7 TEXANS

Until the Ravens prove otherwise ... Texans defense is very questionable.

WIN 33-16 Ravens

Chiefs -8 1/2 CHARGERS

The Bolts are without their starting center Mike Pouncey; out for the season.  That will be troublesome for Tyrod Taylor.  DE Joey Bosa is very questionable.  That will be troublesome for the Chargers defense.

Loss 23-20 Chiefs

SEAHAWKS -3 1/2 Patriots

Cam Newton rushed for two TD's last week against the Fish.  He'll need to both rush and throw TD's in order to beat Russell Wilson at this particular moment in time.

WIN 35-30 Seahawks

SCHMEAR OF THE WEEK (1-0)

Bills -5 1/2

LOSS

Good luck and have a great FOOTBALL SUNDAY everyone. 

Week Two Record:  10-4

Overall Record:  18-9-1

Schmear of the Week:  1-1

Bagels in the Basket:  +8

New York Jets Get Buffaloed in Season Opener

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK ONE

Jets    17

Bills    27

FINAL

All Systems Fail ...

Note to Joe Douglas: once is an event; twice is a coincidence; three times is a trend.

Adam Gase and Le'Veon Bell previously miscommunicate during camp regarding the issue of his strained hamstring.  First game of the season and they again fail to communicate.  Bell re-aggravates his hamstring in the second quarter.  A little stubbornness on his part and a lack of conviction on the coach's part wrongly keeps Le'Veon in the game and gives the Jets their first controversy of the regular season, not to mention a questionable back field heading into game two.

That's not to say Bell's presence would have made a difference.  Before exiting the game Bell rushes six times for fourteen yards and makes two receptions for 32-yards, for a grand total of eight touches and forty-six yards.  Subbing for Le'veon Bell, Frank Gore rushes six times for 24-yards.  The Jets close out the first quarter with a ten play, 75-yard drive in which they settle for three.  However, they go into halftime down nineteen points.  In the third quarter Sam Darnold connects on a short pass with Jamison Crowder who breaks away from the field for a 68-yard touchdown.  The Jets second and last sustained scoring drive comes too late, eleven plays for 86-yards, punched in from the two by Josh Adams.

Last year the Jets finish the regular season with a 7-9 record.  They get off to a 1-7 start then finish well with a 6-2 record.  However, they finished dead last in offense.  One game into 2020 and the Jets appear nowhere near improved.

Both Buffalo and the Jets have the ball for eleven drives, but the Jets only hold the ball for 18:44 minutes and 53 plays.  They generate half as many first downs as Buffalo and gain just 254 total yards versus 404 net yards for the Bills who hold the ball for 41:16 minutes and 81 plays.

Sam Darnold is 21/35 for 215-yards, with one interception and one touchdown.  Take away Crowder's catch and Darnold is 20/34 (58%) for 147-yards with an INT.

The secondary yields its first 300-yard game of the season.  On the ground the Jets hold Devin Singletary and Zack Moss to 41-yards on 18 attempts.  But they have no answer for Josh Allen who scrambles 14 times for 57-yards and a touchdown.

Last season's second half surge proved too little too late.  Just like Sunday's fourteen second-half points against Buffalo again proved too little too late.  Sam Darnold is now in year three.  He indeed has a lot to learn.  But if Sam does not demonstrate marked improvement this season what's the sense in keeping Adam Gase around?

If I'm Joe Douglas I'm already searching for his replacement.  It's the proactive thing to do.  And it would get the Jets away from this vicious cycle of hiring alternating general managers and head coaches.  Best thing Joe Douglas can do is make this team his.  No coaching changes this season, but make sure it's Adam Gase's last with the Jets before he gets him fired too.

N.Y. Jets: Gang Gase Makes Good Against Giants

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

That's One Small Step for Adam Gase;

One Huge Leap at the Giants Expense for Jetskind

With the Giants missing three starting offensive linemen, the Jets dialed up six sacks and another ten QB hits.  They also completely bottled up the Giants running game, limiting Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman to a mere three yards on 14 carries.  Meanwhile angry Jamal Adams was a one man gauntlet of green.  He had two sacks, two other QB hits, a team high nine tackles, and quite literally stripped potential victory out from the hands of Daniel Jones and the Giants with a forced fumble recovery and a touchdown.  Daniel Jones did however carve up the Jets secondary with a pair of touchdown passes each to Darius Slayton and Golden Tate.

For the beleaguered Adam Gase, Sunday's victory is a measure of redemption and at the very least a chance to exhale.  Sunday's victory also gives the Jets a break insofar as getting the local media spotlight placed back on the Giants.  After all, Gase did a better job coaching his team than Pat Shurmur did his.

Gase increased Bilal Powell's touches to seven.  Added to Le'Veon Bell's 18 rushes, that equals 25 rushing attempts.  Their 49 yards gained is a secondary issue.  It's the balance running the ball poses which will further help advance Sam Darnold's development.  Sam the Sophomore was 19/30 (63%) for 230-yards, with one touchdown via the air to Jamison Crowder, and one rushing, and no INT's.

The Giants managed just two sacks, none of which were recorded by former Jet Leonard Williams, although the new Giants defensive lineman was credited with four QB touches.

N.Y. Jets: Gang Spleen Finally Takes Flight

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

Cowboys  22

Jets           24

FINAL

Sam, I am, and despite my ponderous mononucleosis I am the man..!

Darnold leads the Jets to their first victory of the season with a heart matching the size of his swollen spleen.  He doesn't just beat the Dallas Cowboys, he befuddles them, eluding the rush and completing rather miraculous passes.  Darnold finds Jamison Crowder and Robby Anderson eleven times for 233 yards and a 92-yard touchdown play.  He connects with Ryan Griffin for another.  In all he targets six different receivers not named Le'Veon Bell.  Sure he threw an INT, but who cares!  Sam completes 23/32 (72%) attempts for 338 yards in his first game back.  He even makes the offensive line look good.  Behind them, Bell rushes 14 times for just 50 yards.  But Sam is only sacked twice (by Robert Quinn), and sustains just two other hits.  The extra time allows Sam to generate almost as much total yardage as Dallas in 21 fewer plays from scrimmage.

• PROBLEM: Just 56 yards on the ground, and 2/12 on third down conversions.
• QUESTION: Why isn't Bilal Powell being utilized more?

Much to my surprise coach Gregg Williams undermanned defense turns back the NFL's top offense.  They generate just one sack, but get in eight QB hits.  They yield 105 yards on 28 rushes by Ezekiel Elliott.  But with Amari Cooper hurt, the Jets coverage is blanket.  Tavon Austin leads all Dallas receivers with five receptions and 64 yards.  Dak Prescott throws no touchdowns.  And of course, there is Gang Green's decisive goal line stand.

It's not often teams get to defeat the Cowboys on Jerry Jones' birthday.

A job well done ...

Next Up: the New England Patriots.