The Jets lose again
In the 11th game of the 2024 season for the New York Jets, on a warm late autumn afternoon in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Jets lost to the Indianapolis Colts, 28 – 27.
After a first half against a bad Colts defense in which the Jets didn’t have a first down until there were less than two minutes left in the half, the Jets miraculously went into the locker room down only six points at 13 – 7. They were in a game they had no right to be in given how poorly they played in the first half.
The Jets opened the third quarter on defense, with the Colts having a first and ten at their own 40 yard line. Javon Kinlaw broke through to sack Anthony Richardson and Richardson fumbled. The Jets recovered the ball inside the Colts 25 yard line. A couple of plays later Breece Hall ran the ball in and the Jets took a 14 – 13 lead in a stunning reversal of fortune in a game the Jets were being dominated.
The lead didn’t last long. The Colts came right back, driving into Jets territory before settling for a long field goal and a 16 – 14 Colts lead.
The Jets then reverted to the Grunt and Punt offense, putting together their fifth drive without a first down in the game.
A Colts three and out, followed by an interference with the punt returner penalty, gave the Jets the ball with great field position at the Colts 38 yard line. The Jets squandered a golden opportunity, going backwards on the drive, but new Jets kicker Anders Carlson bailed them out with a career long 58 yard field goal to give the Jets the lead again at 17 – 16 with less than three minutes left in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter opened with the Jets driving deep into Colts territory as the Jets were slowly taking command of the game. A big Breece Hall third down carry got the Jets a first down at the Colts 11 yard line. A couple of plays later Aaron Rodgers tossed an easy pass to an uncovered Kenny Yeboah for a touchdown and a 24 – 16 Jets lead early in the fourth quarter. After an extremely rough first half the Jets were dominating the action in the second half.
The Colts came right back, putting together a long drive that culminated in an Anthony Richardson touchdown pass to Josh Downs. The Colts failed on a two point conversion attempt and the Jets led 24 – 22 in what was developing into a highly entertaining back and forth affair.
The Jets put together a drive that stalled at the Colts 17 yard line. An Anders Carlson field goal gave the Jets a 27 – 22 lead with 2:41 left in the game. Now it was up to the Jets defense. All they had to do was keep the Colts out of the end zone and the Jets would have a hard-earned victory.
Alas, it was not to be. A 38 yard bomb from Anthony Richardson to Antonio Pierce immediately had the Colts in business inside the Jets 30 yard line. A couple of Richardson passes later the Colts had a second and goal at the Jets six yard line. It looked like the Jets were on the verge of blowing an excellent second half effort. Two plays later Anthony Richardson ran the ball in for the go-ahead touchdown. A Colts two point conversion attempt failed and the Jets trailed 28 – 27 with 46 seconds remaining in the game and no timeouts. A few feeble passing attempts later Aaron Rodgers was sacked, the clock ran out, and the Jets were sent to their bye week with another defeat.
With the loss the Jets dropped their record to 3-8 on the season. The Jets now head into their bye week trying to figure out how their season went so horribly wrong [WOODY JOHNSON]. With a team that some thought might contend for a Super Bowl berth, why did it have to end up in smoldering ruins [WOODY JOHNSON]? The Jets will have a couple of weeks to ponder the causes of their post-season drought [WOODY JOHNSON]. Then they will play out the string of yet another disappointing season and head into a long offseason to ponder some more [WOODY JOHNSON]. WOODY JOHNSON will make some terrible decisions, the Jets will start the inevitable rebuild, and Jets fans will contemplate why they will have more misery to look forward to [WOODY JOHNSON]. I can’t imagine a reason why many fans would want to subject themselves to what lies ahead.