The Buffalo Bills dealt a crushing blow to the New York Jets on Sunday, securing a 40-14 victory that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score suggests.
The Jets, under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, were thoroughly outplayed on both sides of the ball, falling into a 40-0 hole before their backups managed to put some points on the board in garbage time.
For the Jets, it marked yet another disappointing chapter in what has become a season to forget.
In the aftermath of the defeat that dropped the Jets to 4-12, star cornerback Sauce Gardner faced questions about the team’s performance.
His response revealed deeper concerns about the team’s mindset, particularly hinting at some teammates possibly checking out with playoff hopes extinguished.
“Embarrassing? I don’t even know if that’s the right word,” Gardner told reporters. “You’re telling me now it’s 40-0? If you ask me that means it’s the end of the season, obviously we’re not going to the playoffs, some people might be checked out.”
Sauce Gardner on if today's loss was embarrassing:
"Embarrassing? I don't even know if that's the word. You're telling me now it's 40-0? If you ask me that means it's the end of the season, obviously we're not going to the playoffs, some people might be checked out." pic.twitter.com/YIfs06mx20
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 29, 2024
Gardner’s frustration stems from a puzzling reality: despite having more talent than in previous seasons, the Jets are struggling to come together as a team.
He pointedly recalled how they managed to defeat the Bills and win games in past years with less talented rosters.
The cornerback’s candid assessment suggests a concerning disconnect within the team.
Without directly calling out specific teammates, Gardner’s comments paint a picture of a squad where not everyone appears fully committed to giving their all as the season winds down.
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