So close, yet so far.
The New York Jets staged a spirited fourth quarter comeback but succumbed to a last-play field goal, losing 29-27 and falling to 0-3 on the season.
Meanwhile the Tampa Bay Buccaneers maintained their perfect start, thanks once again to the late game heroics of Baker Mayfield.
Jets defense a real problem
After three weeks of tape to review the New York Jets have several problems, but in my mind the defense is by far the biggest of these.
To be frank, they have looked horrible for 12 quarters.
They have been unable to get off the field in big spots and that trend continued on Sunday. A questionable pass interference call on Sauce Gardner extended the Bucs opening drive, after the Jets got the home side into 3rd and 29. Of course, that drive ended in a field goal.
On their next drive, the Bucs went 77 yards in under three minutes, with Mayfield completing big passes to Emeka Egbuka (twice) and Sterling Shepard before targeting Brandon Stephens in red zone coverage for an easy Mike Evans touchdown.
The Jets defense finally forced some punts, but just before half-time, a face mask penalty called on Michael Clemons handed a free 15 yards to Tampa. They settled for another field goal.
On a play late in the game with the Jets down by six, two Jets defenders managed to trip themselves up, clearing a highway of green grass for Mayfield to scramble for 33 yards.
While this drive culminated in Will McDonald’s remarkable blocked field goal and touchdown return, it just highlighted the comical nature of the Jets play in 2025.
On Sunday, they missed 16 tackles as a team. Every week, it feels as though a tackle is missed and an opposition player makes a huge play.
And while the pass coverage is woeful, Sauce Gardner for the most part is holding his side of the field down. However, Michael Carter, Andre Cisco and Stephens have been targeted and exploited consistently.
A conversation has to be had around Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks. His scheme has no discernible style and the players are constantly exposed. How long will it be before Glenn looks to make changes? How long before players like Stephens and Clemons are benched?
Time will tell.
Spirited fightback in vain
At one point, this game looked to be going the way of the Week 2 loss to Buffalo. But to their credit, the Jets showed some heart in the fourth quarter.
Tyrod Taylor, who was under constant duress all afternoon, led the team on two long touchdown drives – 10 and 11 plays respectively.
The first ended with a simple pitch and catch to Garrett Wilson, before Allen Lazard bought the Jets back within seven points with a grab in the back of the end zone.
The Will McDonald scoop and score off the blocked field goal was one of the great plays the Jets have made in recent seasons. Indeed, it was the first such play since 1997.
But unfortunately, every Jets fan had a sense of dread when they saw the time left on the clock. Mayfield led his team on game-winning drive and the Jets lost another one-score game.
Since the start of the 2024 season, the Jets have lost 15 games, nine of which have been by one score or less. That has to change soon, right?
The frustration on Sunday was that fourth quarter performance took so long to arrive. But the hope is the Jets can bottle whatever changed mentally in that spell and try to bring into the game next week at Miami.
Jets unable to establish the run – again!
It was another miserable game on the ground for the Jets offense. Breece Hall finished just 21 yards on nine carries. Braelon Allen had six carries for 30 yards and veteran Tyrod Taylor finished as the Jets top rusher with 48 yards.
If the Jets cannot establish a run game moving forward, then they will struggle to stay in games. It is the basis of everything they want to do as a team.
Once the Bucs shut that down on Sunday, they just pinned their ears back and pressured Taylor relentlessly.
Tanner Engstrand has to figure out how to establish the run. The talent is there, but they need to execute at a much higher level.
Anyway, it is on to Miami, on Monday Night Football. What could go wrong, eh?
