Panthers 30 Jets 20: On Life Support

In a game the Jets desperately needed for their Playoff hopes, Gang Green was defeated in Charlotte by the Carolina Panthers today 30-21. The Jets have fallen to 6-8 on the season. This is a third straight year the Jets will not finish above .500, and this team will likely not make the Playoffs. Join me below as we recount the sadness from North Carolina.

The Bad:

Santonio Holmes: Holmes made headlines this week about how Carolina's secondary was the weak link, but he was rendered a nonfactor in this game starting with a drop on what should have been a routine catch on New York's first drive. He only had 2 catches for 14 yards.

Punt Protection: The blocked punt essentially ended the Jets' chances. Allowing a free runner to come up the A gap is unfathomable.

Dawan Landry: He was late in coverage far too consistently.

David Harris: This might have been Harris' worst game of the season. He was beaten in coverage a few times. He was dragged by ball carriers to allow critical yardage a few others. And on the screen that went for a touchdown he first did not get off his block quickly enough and then could not catch up.

Dee Millliner: On said screen pass, Milliner gave as poor of an effort as you will ever see trying to beat a block.

Ed Reed: On said screen pass, Reed first bit hard on a fake and then took a bad angle that prevented him from making a tackle. It seemed like another bad angle that would have been a good angle and meant a tackle back when he was in his prime.

Demario Davis: It was a quiet day from him.

Geno Smith: This was not a meltdown, but Geno still did not play well even accounting for yet another ugly pick six. He wasn't decisive enough and kept freezing as the Panthers kept blitzing him off the corner. He also missed a wide open touchdown deep by throwing the ball out of bounds by yards.

Brian Winters: Cleanly beaten for yet another sack and took a penalty.

The Good:

Chris Ivory/Bilal Powell: The Jets gained 5.6 yards per carry today against one of the stingiest run defenses in the league. The running back duo combined for 103 yards on 19 carries.

Quinton Coples: He played a strong game in his homecoming. He was disruptive throughout and ended with a sack and another hit.

Muhammad Wilkerson: A fixture in the Carolina backfield, Wilkerson's 6 tackles understate the way he caused problems for Carolina's run and passing game. One goal line stop was all Wilkerson driving his man into the ball carrier.

Sheldon Richardson: He was productive throughout, but two plays stand out. There was him dragging down Cam Newton in the open field by himself. Then there was the touchdown carry. He is a very tough and punishing runner. The Jets should use him sparingly as a ball carrier. He has much more value as a defender, but they can go to him when they really need a short yardage pickup.

David Nelson: He did a nice job of reading coverages and taking what the defense gave him. Nelson had 3 catches for 44 yards.

Jeff Cumberland: He didn't make many incredible catches, but he did nice work using his athleticism running after the grab, including his 35 yard gain.

The speculation can now probably begin about Rex Ryan's job status. The Jets are probably cooked. There will be other questions such as what happens with Geno Smith. Before we get any answers, though, there will be two more games. What will the Jets show? They may impact to some extent the answers to the important questions.