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The New York Jets were beaten by the Jacksonville Jaguars, 29 - 15, on Sunday in another loss by double digits. Another loss in which the Jets were never really in the game in the second half. Another loss in which the offensive line was offensive. Another loss in which the Adam Gase offense was completely ineffectual. Another loss in a numbing routine in which this team has lost 15 of their last 17 games, worst in the NFL over that span.
The loss dropped the Jets’ record to 1-6 on the season. The Jets are already all but eliminated from playoff contention, less than halfway through the season. How did the power rankings feel about this loss? Let’s find out.
29. JETS (1-6)
Last week’s ranking: 29
Week 8 result: Lost to Jaguars 29-15
Analysis: This season could not be going any worse for Adam Gase. He cannot lose in Miami. Can’t happen. (But it might.)
Up next: at Dolphins
25. Jets (Last week: 25)
So, maybe it was more than the Patriots. Jets quarterback Sam Darnold came crashing down to earth against Bill Belichick’s defense after a Week 6 performance against the Cowboys that got him the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Week award. But on Sunday, Darnold looked all too vulnerable for the second straight week, and this time, it was against a Jaguars defense that’s no longer elite. Darnold was harassed constantly behind an offensive line that can’t seem to handle its assignments, with eight sacks and 13 quarterback hits against Jacksonville’s furious front. Darnold’s first pick came under pressure, and his last two — both in the fourth quarter — came as he was, for lack of a better term, “seeing ghosts.” Young quarterbacks need more help than this, and Darnold, who can throw well under reasonable pressure, probably isn’t going to get it this season. Fixing that line should be Priority No. 1 for whoever’s coaching this team in 2020 and beyond.
28. New York Jets (1-5) ( Last Week’s Rank: 27)
The woes continued in Jacksonville. Maybe the Jets should have been less concerned about QB Sam Darnold’s “seeing ghosts” comment getting attention and more concerned about what was causing Darnold to feel that way.
29. New York Jets (1-6) (Last Week’s Rank: 28)
Player who needs to step up: Sam Darnold, QB
The Jets’ season already is a bust, leaving Darnold’s development as the main storyline. After back-to-back stinkers (seven interceptions), he seems to be regressing behind a porous offensive line. Problems that plagued him in his final season at USC have resurfaced, which is to say he’s pressing and making bad decisions under duress. It’s on coach Adam Gase to clean up Darnold’s bad habits. In theory, the schedule should help. They have six games against defenses ranked in the bottom eight in yards allowed.
With the obvious proviso that power rankings are stupid, unless they praise the Jets, in which case they’re brilliant, what do you think? Where should the Jets rank in the NFL power rankings?