The New York Jets are officially in free-fall. Just a couple weeks removed from their second win of the season, the team is in complete disarray. The Jets have now allowed 175 points in their last four games, the second most over a four game stretch since 1970(!) The 2004 Tennessee Titans allowed the most, with 177 points allowed.
Coming into the season, expectations were low, but wow. There is really no explanation for what happened this week, other than there is a clear lack of talent, all over the roster. It also is possible to blame the coaching, which has done little to help the younger guys on the field. Anyway, here is the review for the New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills Week 10 game.
Mike White: Not QB 1
Well, the Mike White hype train was a fun ride, but it is time for everyone to get off. Zach Wilson didn’t dress this week, but all signs point to him returning for Week 11. Should he be fully healthy, there is no reason to continue starting White. His four-interception, zero touchdown performance this week was not fun to watch, and it surely brings back memories of a certain quarterback who now finds himself at the end of a bench in Carolina.
White did weave a couple of nice throws in here and there, but there is no excuse for turning the ball over four times in a football game. In fact, through 10 weeks, the Jets are the worst team in the NFL by a country mile with a -15 turnover differential. The closest team is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who sit at -10. No matter who starts for the rest of the season, they need to find a way to keep the ball in the possession of the team in green and white.
In the Week 10 preview, it was stated that the way White performed in this game would likely be the deciding factor as to whether he continues to see the field for the rest of the season. Needless to say, there is no reason to continue playing White.
Jeff Ulbrich: Figure It Out
The Jets defense, this season, in a word, has been ATROCIOUS. Ranking dead last in points allowed per game and yards allowed per game, this defense is a far cry from what fans were expecting. The loss of Carl Lawson was extremely tough, but no one could have predicted they would play like this. Just this past week, they let Josh Allen throw all over the field in any way he wanted to. A literal baby could tell the coaching staff that leaving Javelin Guidry on an island against Stefon Diggs is a bad idea.
On top of that, the run defense/pass rush was nowhere to be found. The Bills averaged 5.8 yards per carry, and the Jets got to Allen twice. The linebackers looked lost, including C.J. Mosley, who has seemingly forgotten how to play football.
Something needs to change, whether it be yet another coaching change, or just an injection of talent. Already looking ahead to the offseason, the Jets have at least a top 10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and if the Seattle Seahawks continue to play the way they have been, they could be looking at two in the top 10. They will still have a ton of money to spend in free agency, and this 2022 NFL Draft class is loaded with defensive talent. Everything needs to change, and that may not even be an overreaction.
Looking Ahead
With Wilson likely returning in Week 11, all eyes will be on how he plays against the Miami Dolphins. He should get the start, and there will be quite the outcry if he doesn’t. He will have his full receiving core, now that Corey Davis is back, and the offensive line is finally coming together. If he can take what he saw in the two games that White looked like an NFL quarterback, and apply it to this week, fans should be excited.
There is no reason to feel excited about the defense at all at this point. They have not done anything well, and there is no reason to expect them to out of the blue. Hopefully, they have another ‘great week of practice.’