The rating was 40-0. Buffalo had dominated New York in each sense of the phrase: offense, protection, particular groups, physique language, camaraderie. They have been most likely respiration superior air at that time. Lastly, after one other three-and-out to begin the fourth quarter, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich benched Aaron Rodgers. It ought to have occurred a lot earlier.
Backup Tyrod Taylor swooped in and instantly ran an environment friendly offense. The 15-play drive culminated with a nine-yard landing move to Garrett Wilson, positioned ready that screamed: I belief you. Wilson fell to the bottom as he caught the ball and stayed there for just a few further seconds. Whether or not it was cathartic, or Wilson was merely completely satisfied to place up the Jets’ first factors of the day, the vibe had shifted.
For the sport’s final 13 minutes, Rodgers was rightfully on the bench, and every thing felt lighter for the Jets. The 41-year-old omnipresent quarterback had a day that may solely be described as a shitshow. A number of lowlights:
Two interceptions, one in all which completely illustrated Rodgers’ lack of arm zip
Sacked in the long run zone for a security
Giving up on a fumble recovered chase that Matt Milano took to the home
A late hit penalty (actually)
Underthrowing too many short-to-mid vary passes that landed at his receivers’ toes after which brazenly blaming them for the incompletions
Rodgers’ best feat Sunday was surpassing Tom Brady’s report for essentially the most sacked quarterback of all time. Yeah, it’s a knock on his present offensive line, a capability to shortly launch the ball understanding the tackles are backups, and the truth that he has zero agility left. A minimum of it’s a testomony to his longevity.
But that tumbler half-full view of the report does nothing for his teammates or Jets followers as a result of they’ve the worst model of him. Early Sunday, NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport reported that Wilson could be requesting a commerce if the Jets retained Rodgers. Rapoport claims that Wilson and Rodgers by no means discovered “widespread floor” after their coaching camp altercation.
Rodgers being anointed the messiah after which skipping out on obligatory minicamp to go to Egypt isn’t one of the best ways to develop chemistry with one of many league’s most promising younger wideouts.
Wilson has managed to eke out his third 1,000-yard season in three years, however a lot of that was on account of his clear-cut position as WR1 earlier than the Jets introduced over Davante Adams in Week 7. Earlier than Adams’ arrival, Wilson was the fourth-most focused wideout within the league. From Week 7 onward he’s tied for seventeenth. The goal shares proceed to drop because the weeks roll on. It has nothing to do with Wilson’s means which is sky excessive, it’s that the Jets handed the franchise to Rodgers. Along with bringing over his guys like Adams and Allen Lazard, he hand-picked his buddy offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Regardless of a constantly failure of an offense, Robert Saleh took the autumn after a 2-3 begin. Hackett remained and the Jets have solely gained two video games since.
All of the whereas, Rodgers has whined about every thing from Jets media members to his personal teammates. To not point out the hordes of off-the-field controversies, most notably not believing in vaccinations. Even when the Jets have been profitable just a little extra, is that this the kind of chief you need. A 41-year-old washed-up quarterback coming off a torn achilles. Wilson deserves higher. Sauce Gardner deserves higher. All of the younger gamers on the Jets deserve higher.
The Jets should transfer on from Rodgers. The choice is coming fast. With the top of Week 18 would be the starting of the interview course of for a everlasting head coach. It’s unfathomable {that a} high-end candidate like Lions OC Ben Johnson would need to be a part of the Aaron Rodgers Expertise. Or anybody for that matter. Clearly, that will probably be a serious dialogue level.
The Jets tradition was rotten earlier than Rodgers and will probably be after. There’s a cause gamers like Sam Darnold have discovered success elsewhere after being horrific in New York. Proprietor Woody Johnson is a shame. He reportedly fired Saleh in a dialog that lasted about 30 seconds. In response to an explosive report from The Athletic, Johnson additionally opted to not commerce for star wideout Jerry Jeudy on account of his Madden ranking. Think about a roster with Jeudy and Wilson as co-WR1s.
However the NFL is the league of hope. It’s why we care so deeply about each transfer and why some need our rebuilding groups to be particularly unhealthy to garner higher draft positions. There’s all the time the possibility to show issues round.
After the Jets’ 40-14 embarrassing loss to the Payments, Wilson, a dogged competitor who’s thirsty for a profitable season expressed his personal model of hope.
“It’s irritating, but it surely’s going to make these good instances down the street that rather more fulfilling as a result of we went by means of issues like this”
For Wilson, the nice instances can solely start when and if the Jets ship Rodgers packing.
MVP of the week
Sam Darnold, quarterback, Minnesota Vikings. Previous to the much-anticipated Minnesota-Inexperienced Bay matchup, Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon was requested by ESPN concerning the problem of going through Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Nixon’s response? “I don’t actually assume it’s a problem.”
Suppose once more as a result of Darnold lit up Nixon and the Packers protection. Darnold’s line was 377 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Extra importantly, the Vikes eked out a 27-25 win to arrange a Week 18 battle towards Detroit to determine the no. 1 seed within the NFC.
Sunday was one other notch within the Sam Darnold story of perseverance paying off – beginning with the proper system below Kevin O’Connell. In opposition to Inexperienced Bay, Darnold once more had ice in his veins. His pocket consciousness was on show all through, particularly on this landing throw to Jordan Addison within the third quarter. Darnold can also be a goldfish with the essential trait of getting a short-term reminiscence. After throwing the interception, he was 5-for-5 with a landing on the following drive.
The 14-2 Vikings led by Darnold is one in all this season’s most notable storylines. It was presumed Darnold was a one-year signing however now it isn’t positive how the Vikings can let him stroll away. Secure to say his teammates would love him to stay in Minnesota.
Video of the week
In the midst of the second quarter, Eagles QB Kenny Pickett placed on an enchanting show in defying the legal guidelines of gravity.
We by no means acquired an official ruling because the incompletion/fumble/regardless of the hell that was morphed right into a optimistic play when Cowboys nook Andrew Sales space was flagged for incompletion. Moments later, the identical stumbling bumbling Pickett capped the drive with this magnificence to Devonta Smith:
The rating gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead and, to place it mildly, they by no means seemed again. Saquon Barkley took the reins and continued his historic chase of Eric Dickerson’s single-season speeding report. His 167 yards put Barkley above 2,000 for the season. He’ll want 101 yards subsequent week to eclipse Dickerson. The sport towards the Giants, Barkley’s former staff, will probably be meaningless from a staff perspective. With the 41-7 whooping of Dallas, the Eagles clinched the NFC East and a house playoff recreation, locking themselves into the No 2 seed. In what could also be every week of relaxation for a lot of starters, will probably be fascinating if Nick Sirianni lets Barkley go for it. Both manner, he deserves to stay nestled within the MVP dialog.
Stat of the week
Six factors. It’s a holiday-fantasy soccer championship week miracle! Trey McBride scored his first landing of the season. Not solely that it got here amid a prolific season with McBride’s first rating coming after 98 receptions, a brand new NFL report.
All informed, McBride had a monster statistical night time in a 13-9 loss to the Rams. Along with the landing, he collected 12 catches for 123 yards. However McBride’s night time ended on a somber notice as a possible game-winning semi-catchable ball in the long run zone with 42 seconds remaining deflected off his head and landed within the arms of Rams nook Ahkello Witherspoon. Had Kyler Murray floated the ball with contact as a substitute of firing it in site visitors, McBride’s second rating of the sport (and season!) would have been way more possible.
Elsewhere across the league
Didn’t the Giants know they have been presupposed to lose? Drew Lock ripped up the memo and proceeded to throw for 309 yards and 4 touchdowns in New York’s 45-33 upset over the Colts. Lock ran in a fifth rating. New York’s efficiency eradicated the Colts from playoff rivalry, put Malik Nabers again on the map, and perhaps – simply perhaps – saved Brian Daboll’s job. However the probability of New York nabbing the No 1 decide within the draft is way slimmer; it now belongs to New England, who face Buffalo in Week 18.
The 8-8 Bengals nonetheless have a slim likelihood of creating the playoffs after a 30-24 time beyond regulation win over Denver that was each clunky and thrilling. The Bengals had an opportunity to win it late within the fourth, however horrible time administration gave Denver sufficient time to tie it. In OT, after each groups punted, Bengals kicker Cade York doinked a 33-yarder, however Joe Burrow bailed him out with a Tee Higgins rating with 1:10 remaining in OT. Right here’s the Week 18 situation for Cincinnati to make the event: defeat PIT + DEN loss + MIA loss.
Right here’s a ridiculous theorical floating on the net: Will the Chiefs, who’ve clinched home-field benefit, attempt to knock out the Broncos? Or will they let Denver win to keep away from a conflict with Cincy within the playoffs?
Raiders tight finish Brock Bowers broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year report for many receiving yards by a rookie tight finish. Bowers now stands at 1,105 and counting. That he’s been such a power amid the Raiders’ quarterback carousel makes the feat much more spectacular.
After Miami’s spectacular 20-3 beatdown of the Browns, the Dolphins will make the postseason with a Week 18 win over the Jets and a Denver loss to the Chiefs. The Broncos merely need to win.
