Patriots vs. Jets: Takeaways from Jets' 17-16 Loss to New England
Rex Ryan's last stand at MetLife Stadium did not quite go as planned.
The New York Jets' one-point loss to the rival New England Patriots was a microcosm of the Jets under Ryan's watch: quality defense ruined by an offense and a quarterback who is simply not consistent enough to win.
The Jets may have lost on the scoreboard, but this was one last reminder for the Jets' home crowd of how well Ryan can coach up an overmatched roster to come within one drive of knocking off one of the best teams in the game.
Here are some takeaways from the Jets' loss to New England.
Rex Ryan Has Figured out Tom Brady
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It may very well be time for the Jets to move on from Rex Ryan, but they will be parting ways with a coach who has given Tom Brady as much trouble as anyone.
Sunday's game was yet another example of how Ryan can coach up a defense to play beyond its talent level, especially against Brady and the Patriots. New England's offense hardly looked Super Bowl-worthy, totaling just 231 yards.
The Jets' talented defensive line played a major role in disrupting the timing of the Patriots' attack, but the much-maligned secondary looked as good as it has all season. Tom Brady finished with a 76.1 quarterback rating, his lowest since Week 4's blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ryan may not have gotten the win at what will likely be his final home game as head coach, but he certainly left a lasting mark of what they may be missing without him on the sidelines.
Pass Protection Puts on a Show
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More so than any other reason, the Jets were able to outgain the Patriots and have sustainable drives because the pass protection was immaculate for nearly the entire game.
Geno Smith had plenty of time to go through his progressions, hitting his second and third reads often. It comes as no coincidence that slot receiver Jeremy Kerley and tight end Jeff Cumberland had productive afternoons leading the Jets in receiving.
Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson was stout against the Patriots' top pass-rusher, Chandler Jones, holding him to zero sacks. Even when Nick Mangold went down, the Jets' protection did not miss a beat. Replacement Dalton Freeman yielded minimal pressure in relief.
If New York's line had played this well all season, the Jets may be playing for something more tangible than pride at this point.
Marcus Williams Rapidly Improving
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The Jets have seen an embarrassing number of cornerbacks start for them this season, but they may have stumbled upon a diamond in the rough in undrafted free agent Marcus Williams.
A midseason addition who was not able to make the Texans' roster, Williams has helped solidify what has been a revolving door of players to start at cornerback for the Jets.
Ryan has been careful not to give Williams too much time in man-to-man situations, but he showed a leap of faith in Williams' ability this week. Playing in much more man-to-man coverage, Williams notched his first career interception against Tom Brady and played a huge part in making the Patriots' passing attack look pedestrian.
Williams may not be a lockdown corner that the Jets can start over the long term, but he has proven to be an adequate stopgap player who can fill in without seeing a major drop-off.
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More Ups and Downs for Geno Smith
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Geno Smith may have outperformed Tom Brady on the stat sheet, but his ups and downs have done nothing to convince the Jets brass that he should start another game for the Jets beyond this season.
Smith actually had one of his better games of the season, throwing for 219 yards and a touchdown. However, just as he was starting to gain some real momentum, he threw an awful interception that reminded everyone of just how inconsistent he has been this season.
Even when Smith was moving the ball, he was given immaculate pass protection, completing passes to wide-open receivers. There was no one within five yards of Jeff Cumberland on his 20-yard touchdown reception. His poor situational awareness was on display as well, taking an unnecessary sack that wound up costing the Jets three points:
"Rex on Geno's 4Q sack before the missed FG: "You can't take a sack there no matter who is in ur face. Get rid of the football." #jets
— Kimberley A. Martin (@KMart_LI) December 21, 2014"
Smith will be on the Jets roster next season, but there is no way the Jets can allow him to assume the starting role without beating out some competition first.
Red-Zone Woes Continue
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How does a team out-gain another and still lose? By not executing when it matters most: in the red zone.
The Jets have struggled to punch drives in for six points all season long, and Sunday's loss was no exception. The Jets were 0-of-3 in their attempts in this critical area of the field.
Once again, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg's curious play-calling cost the Jets a chance at more points. On a 3rd-and-8 situation inside the 20, Mornhinweg called a run—as if to throw his hands in the air and surrender without even trying to score.
"Jets have third-and-8 at the 13, tied at seven with the Patriots ... and they run the ball. OK, then.
— Darryl Slater (@DarrylSlater) December 21, 2014"
The Jets have been lousy in the red zone all season—only the Buffalo Bills have a worse percentage. However, if the Jets convert just one of these red-zone trips into six points, this game would have had a much different ending.
Percy Harvin Reinforces "Injury Prone" Label
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Outside of how they will change coaching and front office structure, one of the most difficult and important decisions the Jets will make this offseason is whether or not they retain Percy Harvin at his bloated contract.
Harvin's ability is not in question—his incredible grab in traffic was yet another reminder of how he plays far beyond his size. He appears to have made a relatively seamless transition to the Jets without causing any rifts in the locker room. Harvin genuinely appears content with the Jets, regardless of their record.
"Percy Harvin "I'm at peace. I'm enjoying myself. My family is loving it." #Jets #JetsNation http://t.co/SkDEy8YotT pic.twitter.com/6oTrGRcDc9"
— James Boyd (@OneJetDrive) November 12, 2014"
Harvin and the Jets appear to be a perfect fit, but his recurring injury issues are enough to crash the party. He left the game with a rib injury and did not return.
Harvin, who has an extensive injury history dating back to his college days, will continue to battle injuries throughout his career. Having played just one full 16-game season in his career (2011), the odds of him finding lasting health as he ages are remarkably thin.
At the right price, Harvin has a lot of value even if he does miss some time, but is a rebuilding team like the Jets interested in a player whose availability varies on a weekly basis?
Rex Ryan Will Be Difficult to Fire
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A three- (possibly four-) win season is generally a surefire sign that a coaching change is needed, but Rex Ryan is about as difficult to fire as a 3-12 coach could possibly be.
The 2014 Jets may not be good, but the amount of effort and pride they have shown in these meaningless games is undeniably admirable. The Jets genuinely love playing for their coach, playing just to keep hope alive that he will survive beyond this season.
"Willie Colon said this loss is especially tough cause he wanted to win for Rex. Called #Jets HC "a rock"
— Kimberley A. Martin (@KMart_LI) December 21, 2014"
The Jets may move on from Ryan, and they will have plenty of good reason for doing so—but none of them take away from the fact that Ryan is an excellent coach. The rest of the AFC East will be relieved knowing that Ryan will be out of their division.
"Feel free to fire Rex, Woody Johnson. The #Patriots will thank you
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) December 21, 2014"
If the Jets do wind up making the expected move of firing Ryan after the season, they better make sure they land a great replacement—or this could be a decision they will regret for years.
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