Thanksgiving didn't give the Jets or their fans much to be thankful for. Thursday saw one of the most pitiful and embarrassing performances in the history of the franchise.
The Jets were destroyed by the Patriots Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, 49-19. After a scoreless first quarter from both teams, the second quarter saw the Jets look more like a pee wee team that an NFL one. The Patriots had a 7-0 lead when the Jets playoff hopes would vanish in a 52-second span. Shane Vereen would catch a short pass from Tom Brady on the first play of the drive and proceed to take it to the endzone for an 83-yard touchdown. Alright, blown coverage and a long touchdown. That happens. 14-0 Patriots. Then, the embarrassment began.
On the second play of the Jets drive, Mark Sanchez might have proved that "J-E-T-S" might just stand for "Just End The Sanchize." After what seemed like a blown play on an attempted hand off, Sanchez ran right into his own offensive lineman Brandon Moore falling to the ground and fumbling the ball. Steve Gregory picked up the ball and ran it 32 yards into the endzone for a touchdown making it 21-0. The struggling quarterback somehow ran into his 305-pound right guard and cost the Jets a touchdown.
But wait...there would be more.
The very next play coming on the kickoff return, Joe McKnight would fumble the ball and it would never hit the ground. The ball popped out right into the hands Julian Edelman, who returned it 22 yards for the touchdown. It was 28-0 Patriots with 8:51 remaining in the second quarter.
In a span of 52 seconds, the Jets gave up an 83 yard touchdown, a 32 yard fumble return thanks to Sanchez's blunder, and another fumble return on the very next play. That 52 seconds essentially summed up the Jets 4-7 season so far. It was a nightmare-ish series of events that had Jets radio announcer on ESPN Radio NY, Bob Wischusen, saying "are you kidding me?"
While it looked like a comedy show for many, it was real what the Jets had just done. The Patriots would score three more touchdowns in the game. 49 points off seven touchdowns later, the Jets had their 7th loss and the worst of them all. The loss basically ended any hope this team had in making a late run for the playoffs. It also lost any confidence they may have had after beating the Rams in St. Louis.
It appears that not even Tim Tebow could come in now and help this team. Tebow, who had two broken ribs, could have played if Sanchez went down, but would have trouble throwing the ball. The Jets left Sanchez in for too long. The fourth year quarterback has been given all the chances from coach Rex Ryan. If this team continues to be manhandled as they were Thursday, it's hard to imagine Rex and Sanchez are back next season.
The talent just isn't there this year and a lot of the blame can go to GM Mike Tannenbaum. While Sanchez has been awful, he also hasn't had many guys he can throw to. This team doesn't have the talent or the depth to be a playoff team. That showed on Thursday night. Gang Green has lost all the confidence and swagger that this trash-talking team used to have. It has become a nightmare for Jets fans to watch.
The Jets look to avoid further embarrassment when they are back at MetLife Stadium next Sunday to take on the Arizona Cardinals.
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