Hot Start
Going into the final drive of the second half, The Jets looked to be in the drivers seat. Taking an early 14-0 lead it looked like the Browns first win of the season wasn’t coming tonight. With two quick touchdowns from former Cleveland Brown now Jet Isaiah Crowell, and holding Browns quarterback to only pass for 19 yards going 4-for-14 in the first half. The defense stopping the Browns offense and getting to Taylor early and often. The special teams shortening the field with a blocked punt, which Crowell capitalized on to score his second touchdown of the night. Which led to a penalty for excessive celebration as he motioned using the ball to wipe his backside and throwing it to the stands.
Because of the quick start it was looking to be another Thursday Night Football blowout. Chants for Baker Mayfield could be heard in the stadium, calling for the 2018 first overall pick to enter the game. Late in the second quarter the rookie left the sideline for his first snap in the regular season, the momentum quickly changed. Baker made some impressive throws on the drive that ended the scoring in the first half with a field goal, making the score 14-3.
Play Calling & the Second Half
The Jets offense never seemed to get going in the game. Coach Bowles approached the game very offensively. Sam Darnold appeared to be handcuffed with little attempts to throw the ball downfield. A bulk of the Jets rookies attempted passes were short screens, or dumps to get the ball out of Darnolds hands right away. Besides the throws being down late in the fourth quarter there were only 9 standard pass plays called with routes downfield. For that reason it is safe to wonder, how much does this staff trust Sam Darnold?
Similarly to last week crucial penalties hurt the Jets in a close game. One of the key penalties coming off the 2 point conversion that tied the game. Coach Bowles responded to that saying “We had one there on the two-point conversion that we had no business having, and we let them back in the game with some key penalties and it cost us. We lost our composure.”
Aside from a field goal drive the Jets did little in the second half that was noteworthy. Early on it seems like it might be like past seasons being unable to finish close games. A positive being that they are keeping games close, that the defense looks very good at times. The Jets defense continues to make teams fear their pash rush finishing with another 4 sack game.
Once the offense gets going the Jets look to be in good shape. Will they make progress in the run game? Will they trust Darnold to throw downfield? and can the offensive line protect? remain the Jets biggest question marks.
Losing the game after a late touchdown, and ending two comeback drives ending in interceptions and the score 21-17.
“I told the team that we lost our composure and we should be pissed off up until we play the game next weekend,” Jets coach Todd Bowles said. “That’s the way it’s going to be. We’ll get back. We’re going to have a good football team, and we’ll get back to work on Monday and we’ll get ready for Jacksonville.”
How the Jets react and more coming next week here at www.backsportspage.com
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