Sad Jets lose to Miami

By Andrew Rosario

Miami Gardens, Fla.- There were high hopes coming into the 2019 season for the New York Jets. The organization and fan base were eager to see if 2018 first round draft (#3 overall) pick Sam Darnold would improve. Especially with the addition of running back Le’ Veon Bell. Right out of the gate the Gang Green jinx took full effect. After losing their opening game against division rival Buffalo in which they led 16-0, Darnold comes down with a case of mononucleosis and misses the next 4 games. Other injuries took a toll on the team as backup quarterback Trevor Siemian was lost for the year with a gruesome leg injury. Darnold returned to a 0-4 record and the Jets managed to stun the Dallas Cowboys. The euphoric feelings were short lived as they lost and embarrassed themselves on national tv to the New England Patriots. Darnold’s comment about “seeing ghost” will go down in the annals of the NFL for in game comments.
There were no such expectations for the Miami Dolphins. First year head coach Brian Flores went into training camp and had to figure out who his quarterback would be after the team sent sent Ryan Tannenhill packing to Tennessee. Would it be veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick or Josh Rosen? It would be the lesser of two evils with Fitzpatrick getting the nod. It did not matter as the team was winless (0-7) when they hosted the Jets on an warm and overcast last Sunday afternoon.
Miami averaged giving up 34 points a game and showed why the first time the Jets got the ball. Darnold moving the team down field 75 yards in 11 plays as Wide receiver Jamison Crowder comes down with the 12 yard pass. It was Crowder’s first touchdown of the year.
Ex-Jets quarterback Fitzpatrick returned the favor as he guided the Fish on a 7 play, 61 yard drive find wide receiver Preston Williams in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 7. For the first half anyway, the Jets looked like a team that hadn’t won a game. Fitz threw 2 more touchdown passes (Williams 2nd and a 17 yarder to DeVante Parker) pushing the lead to 21-14. Showing life before the half, Jets kick returner Vyncint Smith breaks a tackle and runs it down to the Dolphins 11 yard line. Darnold looks like his 2 yard pass to tight end Ryan Griffin would get them within 7. Miami challenges and the call was reversed. His next pass was picked off coming away with nothing. Fitzpatrick curiously tried to take a knee to run out the clock but was tackled in the end zone resulting in a safety. Sam Fickens 52 yard field gets them with 9 at 21-12.
The second half showed why both teams had combined for 13 losses in 14 games. Missed scoring chances and costly penalties as Miami came away with their first win of the year.
A very sullen Jets head coach Adam Gase post game press conference was barely audible. “The negative plays hurt us, he whispered. We’re shooting ourselves in the foot to much.”
The Jets host the team they share MetLife Stadium with the New York Giants Sunday. There will be plenty of “fire” Gase chants and signs from the Gang Green faithful. Can you blame them?