The Jets lost 24-10 to the Chiefs on Sunday, their eighth straight loss. The losing streak is the longest since they lost 12 in a row between 1995 and 1996.
Here are a few thoughts on Sunday’s loss:
1. There is the idea taking shape that Rex Ryan should somehow get a pass for this season. Huh? Sure, John Idzik has done a terrible job assembling this roster. Sure, there is a lack of talent. But a one-win lack of talent? Not really. Show me where someone predicted this kind of record in the preseason. Nearly everyone had the Jets around 8-8 or 9-7. Sports Illustrated had about as pessimistic a pick as I can remember, and that was 5-11.
Guess what? That means the Jets are underachieving, and that falls on Ryan. As much credit as he got for getting eight wins out of last year’s team, he deserves just as much criticism for not getting more wins out of this year’s.
Here’s one stat to look at: The Jets have been outscored 72-36 in the first quarter. I would argue the beginning of each half is when you see coaching show itself the most. Ryan’s teams consistently look bad at these times. This is just a criticism of Ryan as a head coach. We won’t even get into the defensive wizard having a defense that is 31st in scoring defense, but we will hit …
2. How is it possible this team has only one interception? The lone pick came back in Week 5 in San Diego by Phillip Adams. Since then? Nada. They really haven’t even come close either. Early in the year, the defensive backs had a few dropped interceptions. They haven’t even gotten those lately.
3. The Jets special teams really failed them on Sunday when the kickoff team allowed a 78-yard return by De’Anthony Thomas in the second quarter. The Jets had finally found their legs and cut the score to 14-7. It felt as if the Jets might be able to make it a game, but the return set up the Chiefs on the Jets’ 29-yard line. A few plays later, the Chiefs were in the end zone and the Jets were never truly in the game again.
The Jets have not been good on special teams again this year. Percy Harvin has given the group a boost with some big returns (and nearly broke one for a score Sunday), but they have no big impact plays. There have been no touchdown returns, no blocks, nothing. They have gotten steady play from kicker Nick Folk, but other than him, it has been bleak.
4. The tight ends vanished from the receiving game. Neither Jeff Cumberland nor Jace Amaro had a catch. Part of the reason was the Jets kept the tight ends in to block Chiefs linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. Cumberland was targeted twice and Amaro not at all. I understand the Jets wanting to give their tackles help against the pass rushers, but for the tight ends to completely vanish from the passing game seems like a poor decision.
Of the Jets’ 36 passes, 25 of them went to either Harvin or Eric Decker.
Revealing number: The Jets actually had more plays than the Chiefs in the game, 69-56. The Jets’ offense showed some promise in this game, moving the ball for 364 yards. Still, they only scored 10 points. They went 1-for-2 in red-zone trips and were 4-of-12 on third down and 2-of-5 on fourth down. Those are big reasons why the production did not show up on the scoreboard.
Game ball: Harvin had a nice game in his second outing as a Jet. He finished with 11 catches for 129 yards and had a 65-yard kickoff return that set up a field goal just before halftime.
Surprising snap count: Chris Johnson was in for 26 of the 69 offensive snaps, which led all running backs. This came after Johnson expressed frustration over his diminished role last week. Johnson’s uptick in playing time meant less for Chris Ivory, who had 17 snaps. Bilal Powell was in between them with 22.