By Andrew Rosario
Like the Bill Murray movie “Ground Hogs Day” the New York Jets and New York Giants continue to live a recurring nightmare every Sunday in this early NFL season. It began last Thursday night when Gang Green played in Denver against the winless Broncos. Not much was expected from the Jets, especially when they had to travel cross country on a short week. The Broncos were winless as well (0-3).The Jets had chances in their first two games against Pittsburgh and San Francisco only to come up short. The Colts dominated the Jets right from the beginning in the 36-7 rout.
From the start, the Jets looked like they were ready to play in Empire Field at Mile High Stadium. Quarterback Sam Darnold gives them a 7-0 lead after a 46-yard touchdown run. Denver responded by scoring the next 10 points before the Jets would tie the game at 10 after a 26-yard Sam Ficken field goal. New York’s defense would allow the Broncos to go 80 yards on 9 plays, giving them a 17-10 lead. Another Ficken field goal (38 yards) cut the lead to 4 at halftime.
New York began the third quarter getting within 1 after Ficken’s third field (32 yards) and then watched the lead expand to 27-16 after a Denver touchdown and field goal. The Jets could have thrown in the towel at that point. But like a fighter getting a second wind after getting knocked to the canvas, the Jets responded. Ficken boots another field goal (54 yards) and then the defense make a rare play as cornerback Pierre Desir picks off Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien and returns it 35 yard cutting the lead to 27-25. The defense was not done. On Denver’s very next possession, cornerback Brian Poole comes up with the interception. Unfortunately, they could only come up with another Ficken field goal (36 yards) giving them their last lead (28-27) of the night.
Denver scored the next two times (field goal and touchdown) as the Jets could not get on the board the last two times they had the ball. Darnold finished the night completing 23 passes on 42 attempts.. He had to leave the game near the end of the first quarter after getting sacked by Broncos linebacker Alexander Johnson. Replaced by Joe Flacco, Darnold returned to finish the rest of the game. Test results on Friday showed a right shoulder sprain according to head coach Adam Gase. It is not known if he will be available when they host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday. A clearly frustrated Darnold said, ““We’ve got to win games, man. I guess it’s better than getting blown out, but we’ve got to win that game.”
Things were not any better for the team they share MetLife Stadium with, the New York Football Giants. Like the Jets, Big Blue traveled cross country to face the Los Angeles Rams. Simply put, the Giants can’t get in the end zone. Their best offensive player (Saquon Barkley) is done for the season after knee surgery. The offensive line does not protect second year quarterback Daniel Jones and the wide receivers and tight ends have been a non-factor. Your defense gives up only 17 points and your team still loses the game.
After the Giants go 3 and out on their first possession, the Rams march 65 yards on 12 plays ending in a 2-yard, Gerald Everett touchdown run. The Giants put 3 points on the board the third time they touched the ball after a Graham Gano 35-yard field goal. Both teams would trade field goals with the Rams taking a 10-6 halftime lead. When Gano got them within 1 after a 27-yard field goal (10-9), the offense would have the ball three more times and came up empty. One punt after 4 plays. 9 plays and before giving up the ball. The last possession, after driving to the Rams 18-yard line, Jones (23-36., 190 yards, 1 int) gets picked off by cornerback Darious Williams. “During that drive, I kind of felt they were going to come back to it because I kind of slowed up on a dig route,” Williams said. But at the end of the day, luckily, I just made a play on it. Said Jones of the pick, “I just can’t force the ball in those situations. At the end of the game with a chance to score and go for two to tie up the game and not do that is certainly frustrating.”
The landscape of New York sports is dire. Along with the football teams, the Mets are a mess. The Knicks have been not been relevant forever. The Rangers just parted ways with Henrik Lindqvist. The Nets are waiting for Kevin Durant to see what kind of impact he will make in a conference that can be taken. The Islanders gave us hope and the Yankees have a good shot at number 28.
The New York Jets are 0-4. The New York Giants are 0-4. The Giants travel to Dallas this Sunday. A Cowboys team who gave up 49 points to the Odell Beckham Cleveland Browns. It will be the return of Giants offensive coordinator and ex-Dallas head coach Jason Garrett. It is anyone’s guess which team will win a game first.
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