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Sam Darnold with weapons looked a lot like Sam Darnold without weapons.
The Jets’ starting quarterback returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games with a shoulder injury. It was the first game of the season he played with the Jets’ top three receivers, which the team hoped would lead to better production from the third-year quarterback.
Instead, it was more or less the same with Darnold, who threw two interceptions and failed to get the ball into the end zone in a 20-3 loss to the Dolphins.
The loss drops the Jets to 0-11, the worst record in franchise history in 11 games. The 11-game losing streak is the second in franchise history, behind just the 12-game streak in the 1995-96 seasons. The loss keeps the Jets on pace to secure the No. 1 draft pick and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Jets coach Adam Gase appeared to resume the call after letting offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains call the last four games. The move didn’t work. If anything, the offense looked like it had regressed with Gase and Darnold instead of Loggains and Joe Flacco.
You must be wondering if this is enough now for CEO and team chairman Christopher Johnson to shoot Gase. It’s been clear for weeks that the Jets need to make a post-season coaching change, but why wait at this point?
Darnold started off strong but passed out quickly. He ended up completing 16 of 27 passes for 197 yards. He’s now gone 19 quarters without throwing a touchdown pass. His last touchdown was on September 27 against the Colts. It was his fourth game since then. He has twice missed two games with a shoulder injury.
The Dolphins improved to 7-4 and remain in the AFC playoff hunt. Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick started as a quarterback in place of injured Tua Tagovailoa and cut the Jets’ defense early. He completed 24 of 39 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Fitzpatrick found tight end Mike Gesicki for a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter that put Miami up to a 10-3 lead. The teams traded field goals in the first quarter.
Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders scored 54 and 51 yards, the second putting the Dolphins ahead 13-3 with 5:23 left in the second quarter. The Jets went on a 13-game practice just before half-time, but went down on 11. Sergio Castillo attempted his second basket of the game, but missed the chip shot by 29 yards, sending the Jets in the mid- 10 point time.
The Jets defense picked up the pace in the second half and forced two fumbles in the third quarter. The turnovers gave the Jets the ball at Miami 45 and 26 and they came away scoreless each time.
On the second fumble when they started in the 26th, the Jets launched into the fourth and one and Frank Gore was stuffed on a run down the middle by Dolphins linebacker Elandon Roberts.
The Jets inexplicably relied on Gore, 37, to be the majority of their offense. With rookie La’Mical Perine on injury, Gase drove Gore, who had 18 carries for 74 yards and three catches for 12 yards.
Darnold was 5 of 6 for 84 yards in the first quarter and looked ready for a big day. Then he passed out. He connected for long passes with Breshad Perriman for 37 yards and Denzel Mims for 30 yards but it didn’t happen enough. The Jets were hoping Darnold will click with Perriman, Mims and Jamison Crowder playing with him for the first time this season. Instead, the offensive stifled.
Darnold’s worst pass came early in the third quarter with a third and an eight. Darnold, rolling to his right, threw late and through his body and was intercepted by Dolphins cornerback Nik Needham.
The Dolphins put the game aside in the fourth quarter with a 7-yard Fitzpatrick touchdown pass to tight end Adam Shaheen that put the Dolphins up 20-3 with 6:54 to go. The touchdown was set up by a pass interference penalty on Jets cornerback Arthur Maulet who moved the Dolphins 30 yards to the Jets’ 12.
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