Playoffs? That’s the last thing the Jets should be concerned about at this point.
Sunday afternoon’s 31-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field dropped the Jets 1-4 on this season. The Jets have now lost three straight games, expectations of reaching the playoffs should rightfully be stored away in a basement somewhere.
If there was still a honeymoon period for head coach Todd Bowles, that officially came to an end Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Bowles, with a little over seven minutes left in the game, facing a fourth-and-two around midfield, and down by two scores, decided to send the punter out instead of going for the first down.
Why not take the chance there? Your team’s season is slipping away. Well? Why Coach? Tell Us Why?
“We had enough time on the clock, we thought if we pinned them and got a three-and-out, we’d be okay. That’s what we were thinking,” said Bowles afterwards. “I don’t think it was a mistake.”
The last Jets head coach to have that much blind faith in his defense was Rex Ryan and we all know how that turned out.
What Bowles saw in his defense which would make him think he’d get a three-and-out there is beyond me. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had all day to throw and he picked apart the Jets secondary.
The coverage from the Jets secondary was bad, again, and it’s clearly taking a toll on their front seven. Roethlisberger, on numerous pass plays, had an eternity in the pocket to throw the football.
No other NFL team allows opposing quarterbacks to complete more passes than the Jets. Roethlisberger found wide receiver Sammie Coates streaking down the field for a 72-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
Marcus Williams, playing in place of the injured Darrelle Revis, had zero chance on the play to keep up with Coates. It was another long pass play given up by the secondary.
The Jets vaunted defensive line also struggled to muster up any resemblance of a pass rush for most of the game and it’s been like this now for the last three weeks.
So, again, I ask, what was it that Bowles saw from his defense which made him feel the Jets could get a stop there?
If your opponent has a weakness, it’s a your job to exploit it. This is exactly what teams have been doing to the Jets this year, they’re hitting them right where it hurts and that’s in pass coverage.
It was a bad call by Bowles, it also sent a very conservative message to a team which has their backs against the wall.
Bowles is big on self-accountability and he did acknowledge he has to coach better.
“I take all the blame,” Bowles said. “I’m the head coach. We’ll go where I go. We’re 1-4, and that falls on me. As I lead, they follow.”
Right now the only direction the Jets are going is watching the playoffs in January.
Well, that also sounds all too familiar to Jets fans.