In what Darrelle Revis described as a “must-win game”, the Jets came out flat, performing dismally for a second straight week. Just four weeks in, the Jets are 1-3, with a dreaded 1-5 start looming. Improvement is needed, and fast. For Todd Bowles‘ team, major questions remain at nearly every key position. Here are the most notable observations from the Jets week four performance.
New York Jets Week Four Takeaways
Secondary Woes Continue
A hobbled Russell Wilson shredded the Jets for four merciless quarters, recording three touchdowns and over three hundred yards passing in the process. Wilson looked to his tight end early and often, and the Jets simply had no answer for Jimmy Graham. Moreover, the secondary was once again susceptible to big plays, giving up an unforgivable forty-two-yard touchdown pass on a broken coverage. Thus far, the Jets prized secondary has given up big play after big play while being unable to generate takeaways of their own. If the defensive backfield doesn’t get fixed, it won’t matter how fearsome the front four is.
Inconsistent Quarterback Play
For a second straight week, Ryan Fitzpatrick was not the quarterback for whom the Jets reluctantly allocated twelve million dollars. For a second straight week, Fitzpatrick delivered a crushing turnover when the Jets needed him most. Fitzpatrick, let’s be clear, played better. Through the first three quarters, he actually played well. And his stat line, muddied by three interceptions, is an inadequate indicator of the quarterback’s actual performance. One interception can be solely blamed on his young wideout, Robby Anderson. One interception came with the game all but out of reach. But that still leaves one to be accounted for. With the Jets driving to tie the game, Fitzpatrick tested Richard Sherman one too many times, and paid the price. The Jets need Fitzpatrick to give them four quarters of solid football, which is something he has done only once this season. Fitzpatrick is undoubtedly this team’s quarterback, and he has shown that he can be a capable one at that. But, simply put, Fitzpatrick must be more consistent.
Lack of Explosiveness
On both sides of the ball, the Jets have simply failed to produce big plays. For the offense, such an offense is understandable, yet nonetheless problematic. The Jets are a balanced, methodical offense. That much is understood. That is not an excuse, however, for their longest play being forty-one yards. Their longest rush is just fifteen yards. If the Jets want to be a playoff team, the offense has to be more dynamic. Significantly more troubling is the defense. The Jets have just two takeaways while giving up countless big plays. If the Jets continue to allow explosive plays, while failing to produce any of their own, things will only get worse.
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