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The result of the game was already decided.
Before the Vikings 37, Jets 17 became official, there was only time for the final, at 1:21.
Robby Anderson was sitting on the back in the end zone with the ball in his hands after an incomplete pass that he felt interfered with. Frustrated by the non-appeal, he was able to tap the ball towards a close official.
"It was just frustration," said the receiver of the Jets. "I hate to lose. Who likes to lose? It was not something intended for [the referee]. It was not bad. It was just a reaction. ''
The 15-yard penalty for Anderson for unsportsmanlike conduct had nothing to do with the final result, but it was symbolic of the Jets' frustration that day at MetLife Stadium, when they thought they were better than those of the Vikings. only half a game in the NFL standings.
The problem though is that the Jets were not – and are not – better than the Vikings, who took a step forward in their class after defeating their previous two opponents, a beleaguered Broncos team on the road at the back. end of a short week and a team of colts full of injuries.
The Vikings (4-2-1) form a better, deeper team, with a stronger defense than the Broncos and Colts. The Vikings were Super Bowl contenders a season ago and will likely remain so.
And that showed Sunday about 60 minutes.
The faces of the Jets players seemed to be sober, but they also hoped that they would become a pedagogical reminder of where they were a year ago and what was next.
Safety in the second year, Jamal Adams, who assumes his leadership role, is held in front of his teammates in the locker room after the match and reminded them where was the team a year ago and what that it had happened, promising that the result would be different. time.
"Jamal said that after the game we were in the same position last year and that the guys had their heads down," veteran defensive lineman Steve McLendon said. "But the guys in that locker room now have their heads up. It's a different team. "
Indeed, the Jets were 3-3 a year ago and, after losing 31-28 in Miami, they lost four of their next five and eight of their last ten finals to finish 5-11.
"Get out of this defeat in Miami … well, you know how things went," said McLendon.
"I know that for two years I have been here, the wheels have fallen and hell will be unleashed," linebacker Darron Lee said. "But we are fine. Nobody panics here. We were not as close as we are now. "
Left tackle Kelvin Beachum said he thought it would be different this time, but he quickly pointed out that it had to be proven.
"We have guys in that locker room who have learned from last year. We just have to film it, show it, "said Beachum.
"We can be special," Adams said. "As long as we keep doing the little things, let's work on the little things. We must finish the manufacturing. We had a lot of opportunities, but we need to take advantage of it. "
That's exactly what the Jets did not do on Sunday. They returned the ball four times against none of the Vikings. Their recipients have dropped passes in key situations.
The Jets did some good things in defense, limiting the Vikings to just three points in three first-half starts in the Jets. But in the end, the Jets just played well enough to lose.
"The match was won all the time," said Lee. "It's not like they came here and slapped us. We fought in all three phases. ''
Jets head coach Todd Bowles lamented "costly mistakes".
"We made mistakes [Sunday] that we have not done in the last two weeks against a good team, "said Bowles," It's going to cost you and it has been, they've done a good job of watching us. work by removing many things we like to do. "
Translation: Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and his staff dominated Bowles and his own.
And now? Where does this Jets team go from here?
How can we be sure that these Jets, who are starting with a tough game on the road next Sunday against a Bears team with perhaps a better defense than the one who handcuffed their offensive on Sunday, will not follow the same path as that that they had a year ago since?
"I will not let that happen," Adams said defiantly. "It's simple and clear: it's not going to happen."
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