That, of course, came with some luck (and controversy) after Chris Jones of the Patriots was called for unsportsmanlike conduct on Folk's first attempt (from 56 yards), which was a miss. Move the ball up 15 yards and the Jets celebrated a W.
Thursday night in the 2014 Jets' first duel with the Patriots, Folk again had an opportunity to lift the Jets to victory with a long kick. Jones was again involved. This time, though, there was no penalty. Folk's 58-yard attempt didn't travel more than a few yards, as Jones, ironically enough, was the one to knock the ball down.
What a difference a year makes.
So, what is that difference, at least through seven games?
The 2013 Jets pulled out close games. The 2014 incarnation hasn't.
At their Week 10 bye last season, the Jets were 5-4. All five of those victories came by a touchdown or less.
This year, it's the exact opposite.
Four of the Jets six losses have come by one possession or less. A 14-point loss to Denver last Sunday only became that lengthy because of a pick-six in a do-or-die drive for Geno Smith and the Jets offense.
There's no denying 1-6 is an ugly, ugly record. But these Jets aren't quite as bad as that record may look. Here's the rundown of the soul-crushers:
- Lost at Green Bay in a game in which a timeout snafu cost them a game-tying, fourth quarter touchdown
- After falling into a 14-point deficit on Monday night against Chicago, came back and got into the Bears' red zone in the final two minutes with a chance to tie the game on a touchdown, then two-point conversion but could not hit paydirt
- Somehow managed to stay in a game in which Detroit thoroughly outplayed them but went three-and-out on a potential game-tying drive that began with 4:36 left in the fourth, then never got the ball back
- Somehow managed to stay in a game in which Denver outplayed them most of the way but, down a touchdown, went three-and-out on a drive beginning with 6:07 to play and culminated it with a Smith pick-six on a last gasp chance that began at their own 5 in the final 2:30
- Thursday's New England affair, in which they more than doubled the Patriots' time of possession and didn't turn the ball over but could muster only a field goal four times in Patriots territory (twice in the red zone)
Outside of the 31- 0 demolition suffered in San Diego, this team has been competitive in every game - with opponents whom are no slouches. The combined record of the teams who have defeated the Jets is 25-11.
While 1-6 looks really bad, you have to ask yourself: how much different really are these Jets than last year's version?
It was relatively agreed upon that Rex Ryan overachieved by taking that bunch to an 8-8 record. With a talent pool that is better in some places (Eric Decker at receiver) and worse in others (the secondary), Ryan's team is on pace for a much worse finish this time around.
But take a look at how the Jets won last year and how they've lost last year - it's not all that different.
Close games went the Jets way in 2013 - and they overachieved.
Winning close games has proved impossible thus far in 2014 - and the Jets are in the AFC East cellar.
Talent-wise, plenty still needs to be done. If a penchant for tight wins and a surprisingly good final record fooled anyone out of that belief, they were sorely mistaken. Seven weeks of the 2014 season have proved that.
No comments:
Post a Comment