Gang Green Stunned Fire Williams

By Andrew Rosario

 

For the second year in a row, the New York Jets hosted the Las Vegas Raiders at MetLife Stadium. When they met last year, the Jets record was a respectable 3-5. They even entertained visions of making the playoffs, especially after routing the Raiders 34-3. But we all know how their season ended. 

 

Last Sunday, New York was on the verge of winning their first game of the 2020 season after losing their first 11 games. The Jets lost to the Raiders 31-28 with .5 seconds left in the game and can now be put in the annals of devastating losses along with the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” (Eagles Herm Edwards scooping up the Joe Pisarcik fumble and running it in for the game-winning touchdown), Dan Marino’s “Fake Spike” (he throws an 8-yard touchdown pass to Mark Ingram) and the Eagles DeSean Jackson’s “Punt Return” (he scores with 13 seconds left in the game).  

 

    

 

Aside from losing the game, the Jets lost their defensive coordinator Greg Williams as he was fired the day after the loss as the team record fell to 0-12 putting them on pace to pick first in the 2021 draft. 

 

 

 

 

All year long, head coach Adam Gase has insisted that his team has played hard only to come up short not making plays when it mattered. Add yesterday’s game to that analogy except they had Las Vegas on the ropes but could not land the knockout punch.

 

For the second week in a row New York gets on the board the very first time they touched the ball. Making his second consecutive start, quarterback Sam Darnold (14-23, 186 yards, 2 td’s, 1 int) drives them down 74 yards in 12 plays ending when he finds wide receiver Jamison Crowder for the 3-yard touchdown pass. Unfortunately, the Jets would lose veteran running back Frank Gore as he was concussed on his very first rushing attempt and would not return. New York could not take advantage to put more points on the board as the defense forced a Las Vegas turnover. Raiders quarterback David Carr looked for wide receiver Henry Ruggs. The ball hits off his hands and Jets cornerback Arthur Maulet comes down with the pass. New York would go three and out as the Raiders tied the game on their next possession. 7 plays and 74 yards later, Carr connects with tight end Darren Waller for the 9-yard touchdown catch. It would be the start of a big game for Waller.

 

Darnold and Crowder hooked up again ending in a 6-yard touchdown catch taking a 13-7 lead as Sergio Castillo hiccupped the extra point. A Raiders field goal (Daniel Carlson 48 yards) cut the lead to 3 (13-10) and then watched their defense intercept Darnold who was looking for wide receiver Breshad Perriman. 5 plays later, Carr finds Waller again, this time a 38-yard touchdown strike retaking the lead 17-13. Waller finished his first half hauling in 8 catches for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. Waller would add 77 more receiving yards in the second half. The Raiders deferred to the Jets to start the game thus giving them the ball to start the third quarter.

 

Las Vegas did not waste time. 75 yards and 13 plays later, Carr scampers 2-yards for the touchdown extending the lead to 24-13. Both teams would punt the next two times they had the ball before New York would score. Starting deep in their own territory (4-yard line) Darnold moves them 96 yards in 9 plays using his own legs to run it in from 4 yards out. The 2-point conversion works (Darnold to wide receiver Denzel Mims) reducing the lead to 24-21. It took only 3 plays for the Jets to get the ball back as they forced another fumble as once again Ruggs coughed up the ball after catching the pass from Carr. 6 plays later, Jets running back Ty Johnson runs it in from 1-yard out. At 28-24. it looked like the Jets were on their way to their first win of the season. Then disaster.

 

With .30 seconds left and needing 61 yards to get in the end zone, Carr (28-47, 3 td’s, 1 int) first connects with Waller for 15 yards. After spiking the ball to stop the clock, Carr overthrows wide receiver Nelson Agholor in the end zone. The next play would cost Williams his job. With Ruggs lined up on the left side, covered one on one against cornerback Lamar Jackson, the Jets blitz. Carr Steps up as Ruggs runs past Jackson coming down with the 46-yard, game winning touchdown atoning for his two earlier fumbles.

 

Jets safety Marcus Mayes shared his thoughts afterwards. “That situation, we could have been in a better call. A lot of emotions in the locker room right now.” Maye added, “it’s tough. We fought hard to put ourselves in a position to win. The call came in, we played the call that the coaches called. We have to execute, but you have to help us out at the same time. I’m not criticizing anyone, but different situations could have played out better.” 

 

Gase, his days numbered, uttered this. “Our players work way too hard to go through this [expletive].” Gase followed it up on Monday as he explained the decision to fire Williams. “Obviously, I wasn’t happy about that call. That was a heartbreaking way for our guys to lose a game. For that to happen in that situation, we can’t have that happen.”

 

Diehard Jets fans looked at the loss two ways. They had an opportunity to rejoice in the first win of the year. Now, they can only hope the team will get the first pick in the 2021 draft.