Garrett Wilson has endured a challenging three seasons with the New York Jets, marked by a series of disappointing losses. In his rookie year, the Jets recorded ten losses, followed by another ten last season, and this year they are already at ten and counting.
The latest setback occurred on Sunday, when the Jets held a late lead against the Miami Dolphins but ultimately fell 32-26 in overtime. This pattern of blowing late leads has become alarmingly common for the team. “When you’re up in the fourth quarter, all of a sudden it starts to feel like you have a losing problem,” Wilson remarked after the game. “You have a gene or something.”
This sentiment resonates with frustrated fans as the Jets (3-10) face their 14th consecutive season without a playoff appearance, the longest active drought in the NFL and the worst among all major North American sports leagues.
“Losing hurts in general,” said right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker on Monday. “When you stack up those L’s, that’s obviously not where anybody in this building wants to be. That’s not anybody’s standard at all.”
The Jets are currently setting unwanted records, having lost a franchise-worst five games in which they held a fourth-quarter lead, including three straight. With nine consecutive losing seasons, they hold the longest active skid in the NFL.
Despite the loss, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich praised quarterback Aaron Rodgers for what he described as “his best performance of the season.” Rodgers threw for 339 yards, ending a 34-game drought of 300-yard passing games in the regular season, and connected on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams.
However, the team’s defense and special teams struggled once again, leading to the loss. “I wouldn’t say more frustrating, but probably equally frustrating,” Ulbrich said. “There have been seven games that have come down to the end and been within one score where we didn’t get it done. We haven’t been good enough in those moments, and we need to be.”
Areas of Improvement
What’s Working:
The passing game has shown signs of life recently, particularly with Rodgers overcoming nagging leg injuries. In Miami, he completed 27 of 39 passes for a season-high 8.7 yards per attempt, helping the Jets achieve a season-best 402 total yards. “I thought he did a very good job, and obviously the statistics would support that,” Ulbrich noted.
What Needs Help:
The Jets’ defense struggled against the Dolphins’ screen passes, with Ulbrich noting that Tua Tagovailoa exploited this weakness effectively. “I’ve never been a part of a game like that,” he said. He acknowledged the need for improvement in defending screens, emphasizing that execution and play-calling must be better.
Player Performances
Stock Up:
Linebacker Jamien Sherwood stepped up in his fourth season, particularly after C.J. Mosley’s injuries. Against the Dolphins, Sherwood recorded 18 total tackles, including 13 solo, marking a season high.
Stock Down:
Special teams faced criticism as well. Although kicker Anders Carlson made all four of his field-goal attempts, including a critical 42-yarder late in the game, he mis-hit a kickoff that allowed a 45-yard return, setting up the Dolphins for a game-tying field goal.
Injury Updates
Ulbrich provided no new updates on the injuries to right tackle Morgan Moses, who hurt his wrist, or special teams ace Irvin Charles (knee). Running back Breece Hall and cornerback Sauce Gardner missed the game, but Ulbrich expressed hope they might return for the upcoming matchup against Jacksonville.
Looking Ahead
The Jets will face the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday, with both teams in a battle for draft positioning. Currently, the Jets hold the No. 7 spot, while the Jaguars are at No. 5 as of Monday.
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