The New York Jets are a franchise that cannot get the job done.
They won the Super Bowl when the AFL and NFL were still rival leagues.
Since then, the Jets haven’t made a return trip to the big game, despite playing in four AFC Championship Games after 1968.
Their last winning season came in 2015 when first-year head coach Todd Bowles led the team to a 10-6 record.
Unfortunately, that record was not enough to end their playoff drought as the Pittsburgh Steelers took the last playoff spot.
Not an ideal start for Zach Wilson & the New York Jets. pic.twitter.com/0ag705sLki
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 20, 2021
Last season, the Jets reached another level of futility by losing their first 13 games.
Die-hard fans would rather see them lose all their remaining games to get the first overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft.
However, they won back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Rams and the Cleveland Browns before losing their season-ender to the New England Patriots.
The 2-14 record gave them the second pick, which they used for quarterback Zach Wilson.
The rookie from Brigham Young University did have a decent preseason.
But two games into the season, and those results were all but a distant memory.
Media really asked Zach Wilson if he was seeing ghosts out there.
NY media gives 0 fucks. pic.twitter.com/j87RSErho9
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 20, 2021
Wilson started the NFL regular season against Sam Darnold, whom the Jets traded to the Carolina Panthers.
He did have a solid debut of 20 completions for 258 yards and two touchdowns.
Sadly, he threw an interception in a 19-14 loss, which extended their losing streak in September to 10 games.
Even in defeat, the Jets had something to build on from this game.
Corey Davis had 97 yards and two touchdowns, while they lost by only five points.
But the New England Patriots may have shattered Wilson’s confidence and those positive points after a dominating performance.
Jets Learned The Hard Way
The Jets felt good after forcing the Patriots to punt on the first drive of their Week 2 clash.
But Wilson threw an interception to J.C. Jackson in their opening drive.
Since then, the rookie quarterback experienced Murphy’s Law first hand in his first home game.
In their next possession, Wilson threw another pick to Adrian Phillips.
Adrian Phillips on JC Jackson stealing an interception form him: You know how they say, every squirrel finds a nut? Well, the nuts find JC. The guy's a ball magnet.
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) September 22, 2021
Mac Jones and company made sure that they made the Jets pay by scoring a touchdown on a seven-yard run by James White.
Jackson got his second interception with less than six minutes left in the first half.
Lucky for New York, the Patriots’ succeeding drive resulted in a punt.
Matt Ammendola’s 27-yard field goal saved the Jets from being shut out in the first two quarters.
However, Wilson’s nightmare was far from over.
Devin McCourty received Wilson’s fourth interception, and the veteran cornerback ran 22 yards to bring New England to field goal range.
D-MAC!!! Devin McCourty picks off Wilson who has now thrown 4 interceptions on the day! #Patriots pic.twitter.com/3qhErxUKo2
— Casey Baker – New Account (@_CaseyBaker) September 19, 2021
Instead, Damien Harris made the count 19-3 with a 26-yard touchdown run.
The day turned from bad to worst as Ammendola missed a 53-yard field goal attempt, and the Jets turned the ball over on downs via an incomplete pass from Wilson to Braxton Berrios.
Another consolation field goal from Ammendola and two kicks from Nick Folk made the score 25-6.
The Jets had one more drive, but it ended with an incomplete pass for no score.
Wilson finished the game with 19 completions for 233 yards and four touchdowns.
Getting right ✈️ pic.twitter.com/JtqvXC8PMI
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 23, 2021
He became the third rookie Jets quarterback in the last 20 years that threw four picks and zero touchdowns.
Worse, the Jets offensive line has already allowed 10 sacks in two games.
They are still a lousy team, bar none.
The misery will continue as they face the 2-0 Denver Broncos in Week 3.
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