MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Jets dropped their fourth straight game and ninth in 10 games with a 32-26 overtime loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. Here are some thoughts and observations from the game:
1. The Jets have had a horrible time visiting South Florida in recent years. I detailed the meetings going back to 2016 in my Post Sports+ newsletter last week. The last Jets win here came in 2014 in Rex Ryan’s finale as Jets coach.
It has been a while.
The weird history there goes back even further. Being in the visitor’s locker room in Miami always brings back memories for me. In 2013, this is where John Idzik and Woody Johnson gave Ryan a vote of confidence to return in 2014. A year later, we were chasing Johnson and Idzik out of the building as firings were imminent.
But the trip to Miami that was really on my mind after Sunday’s game was 2011. You remember that one, right? It was the final game of the season and the Jets lost 19-17 with Santonio Holmes fighting his teammates in the huddle.
That loss eliminated the Jets from the playoffs. It was a stunning end to a disappointing season with the Jets missing the playoffs after back-to-back AFC Championship game appearances.
The postgame locker room that day was angry. There was anger at Holmes but also anger at how the season went. LaDainian Tomlinson, who played his last game that day, spoke to reporters for an extended period of time and detailed what he thought needed to change for the Jets to be successful.
Here’s the thing: it felt like a temporary setback. The Jets went 8-8 and missed the playoffs but the feeling that day was they had a good core and they could make some changes and get back to the playoffs the next year.
Fourteen years later, the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention in that same building. But this time it came in Week 14 and I did not sense much anger in the postgame locker room (other than maybe Garrett Wilson). This team is 3-10 and they accepted who they are a while ago — a team that lacks leadership, cohesive play and a killer instinct.
It is shocking that the playoff drought is at 14 years. Think about how many bad NFL organizations there are — Jaguars, Panthers, Browns, Commanders, Raiders, to name a few — and they have all been to the playoffs more recently than the Jets.
It defies logic that a team can be this bad for this long. The only time they have even come close to sniffing the playoffs since that day in 2011 was in 2015, when they suffered another crushing final-game loss in Buffalo.
The drought now has a life of its own and whoever takes the GM and coaching jobs next better recognize that. Aaron Rodgers said after the game that he’s only been the starter for a year when asked about the drought, but the drought hovers over this organization and the frustration of fans stems from it. So, even though players and coaches may only be here a short time, the anger comes from 14 years of mostly bad football and may feel disproportionate to what is happening in a particular season.
2. There are so many factors in why the Jets are losing this season but the defense continues to come up small. This unit was expected to be among the best in the NFL this year. Statistically, they are, but anyone actually watching the games knows they are not.
This is a group that makes zero impact. They have two interceptions this season and none in nine weeks. On Sunday, they had no sacks and no quarterback hits despite Tua Tagovailoa throwing 47 passes. Think about that: 0-for-47. Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich blamed it on Tagovailoa getting the ball out of his hand quickly. Well, then the coverage is not good enough. The Jets should have been able to force him to hold the ball for at least one play to allow the pass rush to get home.
Then, there are the late-game collapses. You just knew when the Dolphins got that kickoff return late in the fourth quarter that they were going to kick a field goal. In overtime, you knew the Dolphins would drive down the field.
The Patriots, Colts, Seahawks and Dolphins have all now gone right down the field late in games to beat the Jets.
This group has not been the same since Robert Saleh was fired on Oct. 8. The pass rush is inconsistent. They commit penalties at the worst times. It was the one unit that people penciled in as a given entering this season. Instead, it has been a huge problem.
3. OK, enough doom and gloom. If you’re looking for a positive from Sunday’s game, the two rookie running backs looked good. Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis formed a nice duo with Breece Hall missing the game with an injured knee. They did well running (83 yards combined) and catching passes out of the backfield (four catches, 65 yards).
The Jets could have a nice trio of backs next year with Hall and these two. A creative offensive coordinator should be able to find a way to use all three.
4. We’re in tank season, where fans of bad teams are dreaming of landing at the top of the draft and taking a franchise quarterback. Next week’s Jets game is a cautionary tale that it is not always the answer. The Jets and the Jaguars meet and it will be Aaron Rodgers against Mac Jones at quarterback in a meaningless game (except draft position) between two 3-10 teams.
It was not supposed to be this way. The two teams were 1-2 in the 2021 NFL Draft and Jacksonville took Trevor Lawrence and the Jets took Zach Wilson. Neither pick has worked out. Lawrence is out with a concussion and there is still some hope he can be a long-term starting quarterback but he has not lived up to his pre-draft billing. Wilson is now the No. 3 quarterback in Denver. Both coaches who drafted the quarterbacks have been fired.
So, while it is fun to dream about your team finding the answer at the top of the draft, just remember it is not a guarantee.
Revealing stat
The Jets have lost five games this season that they led in the fourth quarter. That is the most in franchise history, according to ESPN.
Surprising snap count
Michael Carter II played just 12 snaps (17 percent). Carter has been dealing with a back injury this season but was off the injury report last week. This seems to be more about the coaches preferring Isaiah Oliver (22 snaps) at nickel.
Game ball
Garrett Wilson showed why whoever the Jets hire as GM needs to make extending the young wide receiver a top priority. Wilson had seven catches for 114 yards going mainly against Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Wilson is a building block for the Jets.