Biggest Takeaways from New York Jets' Week 3 Loss

Back to reality.

The New York Jets put up a fight, but in the end, the Philadelphia Eagles proved to be too much in a 24-17 loss at MetLife Stadium.

It's the first loss of the Todd Bowles era, and it's a loss which immediately reminds the world that while the Jets have a lot of talent, they are also still building to where they ultimately want to be.

Now, can they still get where they want to be by the end of the season? Yes. The Jets have a fairly easy schedule from here on out, and while they must face the New England Patriots twice, they could arguably win eight of their 14 remaining games, which would put them in the hunt for one of the Wild Card playoff spots. 

But in order to do that, they must first fully absorb the loss from Sunday. Here are five of the key takeaways from that game.

Antonio Cromartie Is Still Capable of Being the Jets' No. 2 Cornerback

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It would be inaccurate to say that Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie has been up and down this season. It would be more accurate to say he's been down and up.

Cromartie started off the season by allowing four receptions on five targets in the first two games of the season, but he stepped his game up against the Philadelphia Eagles and didn't allow a single reception on four passes thrown his way according to Pro Football Focus. 

The Eagles took a different approach and targeted the Jets' linebackers instead, with Demario Davis (five receptions on six targets) and David Harris (two receptions on four targets) accounting for most of the Eagles' offense. Slot cornerback Buster Skrine (four receptions on five targets) was also targeted.

Granted, it was one game against Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford, but if Week 3 was any indication, Cromartie still has some good football left in him. 

The Jets Offense Sorely Misses Eric Decker and Chris Ivory

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 07: Chris Ivory #33 of the New York Jets walks back with teammates Eric Decker #87 and Bilal Powell #29 after a fourth quarter touchdown run against the Oakland Raiders at MetLife Stadium on September 7, 2014 in East Ru

Two of the Jets' three best skill position players were absent from the lineup on Sunday. No wonder their offense looked so out of sync.

The offense converted just two out of eight third downs in the first half and gained just 2.9 rushing yards per carry and 5.7 passing yards per attempt.

The Jets punted on their first six possessions, five of them three-and-outs, and followed that up with a fumble on their seventh possession before finally scoring a touchdown headed into the locker room.

Slot receiver Jeremy Kerley proved he can still be a valuable piece to an offense, but the Jets just don't have a lot of depth at those skill positions. Running back Bilal Powell is a nice No. 2 piece in the backfield, but he's not the kind of back who should be the bell cow for an offense. 

The absence of Ivory and Decker created a sense of desperation that may or may not have led to wide receiver Brandon Marshall's bewildering lateral that resulted in a fumble. 

Wide receivers Quincy Enunwa, Devin Smith and Kerley were targeted on 30 of Ryan Fitzpatrick's 58 pass attempts, but they combined for just 14 catches. The sooner Decker and Ivory return to the lineup, the sooner the Jets offense can get back on track. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick Is Not Infallible

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So Ryan Fitzpatrick makes mistakes in bunches sometimes. Huge shocker there. For anyone who has followed Fitzpatrick's career trajectory, there's no surprise in this statement.

The Jets got a sampling of "good Fitz" in the first two games before "bad Fitz" took over in Week 3 as the Amish Rifle tossed the pigskin 58 times with 35 completions (60 percent) for 283 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions and a 62.6 passer rating. 

Fifty-eight pass attempts is a ton. Of course, that will happen when the team falls behind by 24 points. 

When Fitzpatrick throws 40 or more passes, it's usually not a good sign for his team. His teams are 3-13-1 in 17 games when he's attempted 40 or more passes, and he has completed 455 of his 740 pass attempts (61.5 percent) for 4,798 yards and has thrown 29 touchdowns and 29 interceptions for a 77.1 passer rating.

At this point, Fitzpatrick is what he is: he's 11-14 in his last 25 starts. He can manage a game and give his team a chance to win, or he can blow the game and completely take his team out of the game.

The Jets will need a lot more of "good Fitz" if they're going to make a run at the postseason in 2015. 

Turnovers May Be Key to Jets' Success on Both Offense and Defense

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Is this what the Jets look like when the opponent doesn't willingly hand them the game?

Through two games, the Jets had created 10 turnovers on defense and had given up just two on offense. On Sunday against the Eagles, the Jets defense had just one turnover while the offense coughed it up four times. 

First of all, Ryan Fitzpatrick has to take better care of the ball. The Jets have the talent to win as long as Fitzpatrick isn't single-handedly costing them the game. Three interceptions is never going to cut it as quarterback of the Jets. Just ask Geno Smith (and unless the Jets rebound off this loss, you may have your chance). 

Secondly, the Jets can't afford the brain-farts like the one by Brandon Marshall on the ill-advised lateral.

But just as importantly, the Jets defense needs to get back to forcing those turnovers. Their third-down defense was good, especially in the second half (4-of-8 in the first half, 0-of-7 in the second half), but with Eric Decker and Chris Ivory nursing injuries, the Jets offense needs all the assistance it can get. 

Week 4 vs. Miami Dolphins Will Be a Desperation Game for Both Teams

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After two weeks of everyone pumping their tires, the Jets are probably feeling a little deflated after losing at home to the Eagles. "Deflated" doesn't even begin to describe the feeling in the locker room of the Miami Dolphins, the Jets' Week 4 opponent.

The Jets were demoralized in the first half, but the Dolphins were embarrassed for 60 minutes on Sunday in a 41-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills. 

Both teams are going into this game with a lot to prove. For the Jets, it's time to show that the first two games were not a fluke and that this team can compete for a playoff spot into November and December. For the Dolphins, it's time to start playing well and get those butts off the hot seats.

This is the Jets' first division game, and it's on neutral ground as both teams travel to London for the Week 4 AFC East tilt.

If the Jets can come away with a win and send themselves into the bye week on a high note, the complexion of their season could turn right back around with a 3-1 record 25 percent of the way through the season.