Wealthy Cimini, ESPN Employees Author
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, who inherited the group three weeks in the past after the abrupt firing of Robert Saleh, stood on the podium, eyes glazed, voice shaking at occasions. He was making an attempt to make sense of a once-promising season that seems all however misplaced.
“I am pissed, they’re pissed,” he mentioned of the gamers. “I am damage, they’re damage.”
The Jets (2-6) dropped their fifth straight sport, a demoralizing 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium — one of many franchise’s lowest factors in latest reminiscence. Ulbrich, sharing his postgame message to the group, referred to as it “a second of darkness.”
Three weeks in the past, the Jets had been enjoying for a share of first place within the AFC East. Now they’re tied for final with the Patriots, who, regardless of dropping quarterback Drake Maye (concussion) within the second quarter, outscored the Jets within the second half, 18-9.
The Jets are a star-laden group with a future Corridor of Fame quarterback, they usually have collapsed in spectacular trend.
“I imply, 5 losses in a row is fairly rattling darkish,” mentioned tight finish Tyler Conklin, amplifying Ulbrich’s phrases. “S—, one or two losses in a row can get darkish. This sucks.”
Aaron Rodgers deadpanned: “I have been within the darkness. You need to go in there and make peace with it.”
Not like certainly one of Rodgers’ retreats, there is not any assure this can finish anytime quickly, primarily based on the way in which the Jets performed in opposition to the struggling Patriots, who snapped a six-game dropping streak.
In a digital must-win sport, the Jets misplaced a sport that appeared unattainable to lose. They grew to become the primary group since 2012 to lose with zero giveaways and fewer than 250 yards allowed, in line with ESPN Analysis. It occurred to Rodgers in 2012, within the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks within the notorious “Fail Mary Recreation.”
The Jets appeared ill-prepared, because the offense wasted three timeouts within the first quarter and took a delay penalty on a pivotal two-point conversion within the fourth quarter. In addition they had been undermined by kicker Greg Zuerlein, who missed a discipline objective and an additional level — the continuation of a season-long droop that has put his roster spot in jeopardy. He has missed six discipline targets, twice as many as his 2023 whole.
“We didn’t execute in essential moments,” mentioned Ulbrich, whose group gave up the lead twice within the final seven minutes. “We are saying that is not who we’re, however it’s who we’re till we display in any other case.”
Proprietor Woody Johnson not too long ago referred to as this in all probability his greatest roster in 25 years. At 2-3, he fired Saleh, anticipating it to spark the group. In addition they traded for star broad receiver Davante Adams and welcomed move rusher Haason Reddick, who made his debut Sunday after a prolonged holdout.
There was no spark.
Reddick was a non-factor, recording no tackles and solely two quarterback pressures in 26 defensive snaps. He was on the sector for 5 of the final eight performs on the Patriots’ 12-play, game-winning drive, which culminated with Rhamondre Stevenson’s 1-yard landing run with 22 seconds left.
“As of proper now, I’ve nothing to say so far as the holdout,” mentioned Reddick, who refused to reply a number of questions on it. “The one factor that I am anxious about proper now could be what can I do to be higher, what can I do to get myself totally in control.”
Adams (4 catches for 54 yards) had one other quiet sport, although his presence created alternatives for Garrett Wilson (5 catches for 113 yards). In any other case, the offense sputtered, showing confused at occasions. Performs got here in slowly from the sideline and gamers did not know the place to line up at occasions.
Rodgers appeared exasperated at occasions, although he held his tongue afterward.
“On certainly one of (the timeouts), we had been lagging out of the huddle,” he mentioned. “One, I used to be making an attempt to get the safety proper. One, I felt like we may have gotten off, however it was advantageous to take (a timeout) there.
“Yeah,” he concluded, “our operation was somewhat sluggish at occasions.”
“I am pissed, they’re pissed. I am damage, they’re damage.”
Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich
On the delay of sport, which moved the two-point strive again to the 7-yard line, Rodgers mentioned he did not just like the play name versus their defensive look. So he let the play clock expire, figuring that was higher than losing one other timeout. Finally, his move failed. As an alternative of a 24-17 lead, it was 22-17.
Which did not final lengthy.
For Rodgers (17-for-28, 233 yards), who threw two quick touchdowns, this marked the third five-game dropping streak of his profession. His mission in New York was to vary the tradition of a star-crossed franchise, however that hasn’t occurred. He bristled when requested about that, saying the query was “somewhat dramatic.”
“The NFL is tough,” he mentioned. “It is laborious to win. It is more durable if you make it troublesome on your self.”
Since changing Saleh, Ulbrich has presided over a protection that has allowed 85 factors in three video games — nicely above their common. He has continued to name the defensive performs, however that would change quickly.
“I am going to take a tough have a look at every little thing,” he mentioned. “If that is one of many issues that would assist us, then it will undoubtedly be on the desk.”
