After last week's debacle against the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets continued their free fall this afternoon, as they lost to the 4-8 San Francisco 49ers. With Miami and New England both winning today's games, the Gang Green are now in a 3-way tie for the first place in the AFC East.
It all started even before the game when we learned the news about DE Shaun Ellis getting busted for marijuana possession last weekend. If that wasn't enough, the constantly crying WR Laveranues Coles then complained how QB Brett Favre's arrival undermined his (Coles') importance on this team.
Then it was the 49ers who obviously watched last week's tapes and saw a sure way to beat the Jets - just pass the ball against them. The abysmal pass defense once again proved to be the downfall for this team. 49ers QB Shaun Hill (in his 10th career NFL game) went 28 out of 39 for 285 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT against the sorry Jets defense that allowed over 50% of third downs. We can also recall the 4th down attempt by the 49ers that they obviously weren't going to run, but their effort was enough to draw DT Kris Jenkins offside and gain a first down. It's also hard to understand the philosophy behind rushing just 3 men in obvious passing situations. If you don't pressure the quarterback, any quarterback, in this league, he will pick you apart, as simple as that. Obviously, this concept is just too difficult to comprehend for the Jets defensive coordinator Bob Sutton who hardly ever blitzes and mostly tries to apply the pressure with just the front three.
The offense wasn't much better, if better at all. It's difficult to win a football game with only 20 minutes of possession, 10% third down efficiency (1 out of 10) and only 10 first downs total. Brett Favre finished the game with only 137 passing yards and every time he tried to go deep, it seemed like the Jets receivers just couldn't get any separation from the 49ers secondary.
Then, there were also the penalties that kept hurting the Gang Green throughout the contest. The Jets had 8 penalties for 57 yards, and the biggest one was a holding call on S James Ihedigbo, nullifying a 99-yard kickoff return by RB Leon Washington - a excellent run that would\'ve given New York a 21-17 lead early in the 4th quarter.
There are still three games to go and the Jets are still in control of their own destiny, as they have the best record inside their division. In just two weeks the Gang Green have fallen from possibly challenging the Steelers for a first round bye to fighting to even make the playoffs. What a typical New York Jets-like transformation!