Amazingly, the Jets are still in the middle of the Playoff race. Nor do they deserve to be after Sunday’s humiliating 24-17 loss.
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Jets quarterback Fitzpatrick completed under 50 percent of his passes, threw more interceptions than touchdowns and finished with a QB rating of 52.9, so overall you’d have to say the secondary played well. The Texans ate up over 10 minuets of clock in two possessions, scoring on their second.
Maybe it’s safe to welcome back the Jets as we know them: mediocre and over-hyped. Hopkins burned Revis, who left the game in the second half with a concussion and did not return, down the sideline in the first quarter but Yates’ pass was badly overthrown.
The New York Jets (5-4) are coming from a 22-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills last week. This includes two of the victories in their current three-game win streak. “We were talking about it the other day and he reminds me of the way we used to have to handle Howie Long – same type of player”. “DeAndre’s played a lot of football for us, so I think he’ll remember the plays and I think he’ll be ready to go”, O’Brien said.
Coach Todd Bowles wasn’t happy with Fitzpatrick’s performance on Sunday, but said his job wasn’t in jeopardy. I’m plugging the wide out in as my WR1 this week as Marshall will most likely play since he’s not one to sit a game out unless he can’t physically can’t walk. The coach said he would evaluate who would start at quarterback on Monday, as he said he does every Monday. Revis ended up leaving the game early in the third quarter with an injury.
Hopkins had no trouble getting separation from Revis, but it was his 61-yard touchdown catch over an outstretched Revis that caught everyone’s attention.
Cecil Shorts – who acted as a part-time receiver, running back and wildcat quarterback for the Texans Sunday – was particularly devastating to the Jets.
The Jets offense finally clicked early in the third quarter. Hopkins beat CB Darrelle Revis on the play, and later beat CB Marcus Williams for a 20-yard score after Revis exited with a concussion. If he makes that catch, the momentum shifts to the Jets’ hands.
Houston led 24-10 after three quarters, but NY tried to rally with a 7-0 blast in the fourth. In the National Football League, it is extremely hard to win only being able to muster 16 first downs and 267 yards (70 rushing and 197 passing yards) all game.
If it wasn’t Charles James II breaking up passes, or rookie corner Kevin Johnson wreaking havoc like vet or Eddie Pleasant and Andre Hal grabbing Fitzpatrick as if they were fallen fruit from trees, this team did anything and everything to get what they wanted.
Heading into the final six games of the season, O’Brien would like to see Hoyer pick up where he left off. He wants to see Hoyer continue to protect the ball and understand the flow of the game so that he can do what it takes to win.
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The playoff window is narrowing for the Jets. They’ve had moments where they look like a truly great team and they certainly have the appropriate pieces to be a very good team, but they’ve had other moments where they’ve looked exceedingly flat.
