Aside from some solid play by Thomas Jones (No. 20) in the backfield, the Jets offense struggled in another tough loss Sunday. PHOTO BY BILL MENZEL / LSV

East Rutherford, NJ – So much for the bye week for the New York Jets. Hoping the extra time off would turn their season around, the Jets picked up right where they left off after their last game. 

Another loss that could have easily been a win.

This loss however to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-22, dropped their record to 4-5 and put a serious dent in their chances to make the playoffs. The pattern has been all too familiar for a team that started the year winning their first three games. Since then, they have lost five of their last six. Turnovers leading to opponent’s points and the inability of the defense to come up with a stop with the game on the line. Head coach Rex Ryan, who gave his squad six days off after their last game implored the fans once again to come out and support the team in full force. It didn’t take long before the fans began shaking their heads.

Five plays later, Jags running back Maurice Jones-Drew runs past the defense for a 33 yard touchdown. The Jets defense looked like it was sleepwalking the entire first half. In trailing 21-13 after the first two quarters, the Jets gave up 250 yards. Said Ryan, “It took some time for us to make an adjustment.”

The Jets defense played better in the second half, but it wasn't enough against Jacksonville. PHOTO BY BILL MENZEL / LSV

The defense would only give up three points in the second half and until the final drive did not give up a first down. Meanwhile, the offense staggered all day but was able to take a late lead, 22-21, after a Thomas Jones 1-yard touchdown run. He finished his day gaining 77 yards but needed 21 attempts in doing so.

Sanchez continued to struggle in his rookie campaign, throwing for 212 yards on 16 of 30 attempts and two interceptions. The most costly incompletion (not his fault) came on the 2-point conversion when Braylon Edwards could not hold on to the pass that would have given the Jets a 3-point lead. 

After the Jets took the late game lead, Jacksonville started out at their own 17-yard line with 5:04 left in the game. David Garrard (16-26 221 yards 1 TD) would complete four passes for 68 yards. The last and biggest, a 33-yard completion to Marcedes Lewis, taking them down to the Jets’ 14-yard line. With no time out left, Ryan instructs his defense to let Jones-Drew score unobstructed. Jones-Drew runs up the middle but takes a knee on the 1-yard line. “In that situation, I don’t think you have a choice,” said Ryan. “They are already down there deep in field goal range.”

The Jags call a time out with three seconds left. Plenty of time for Josh Scobee to kick the game-winning field goal.

Rex Ryan keeps insisting that the Jets are “a real good team.” With all due respect, real good teams do not make the same mistakes week after week that result in losses. Since week 4 when the losing began in New Orleans, the Jets have started slow both offensively and defensively. The clock management has been atrocious. Penalties have come at the wrong time. “We gotta find ways to win,” Ryan said afterwards. “We have no excuses. I know we have a good football team and I believe that. I know it’s getting old me saying that each week. We’re not dead yet.”

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