Jets Week 12 Co-Anti-Game Balls: Sam Darnold and Adam Gase

The Jets lost once again on Sunday, which means it is time to give out another anti-game ball.

This has been the kind of year that has forced me to break all of the rules for the anti-game ball. I have given out a number of special group anti-game balls. I have broken protocol by giving it to coaches, quarterbacks, and repeat winners.

Today I will do that once again. I am giving out two anti-game balls. One goes to Sam Darnold. The other goes to Adam Gase.

As I said in yesterday’s game recap, the quarterback and the head coach are the two most important people on a football team. They can lift up an otherwise bad team. They can sink an otherwise good team.

The Jets aren’t a good team, but many players performed well in Sunday’s game. In many areas the team was good enough to win.

The game was uncompetitive because of the two key people. Darnold in his return to the lineup struggled. He threw a pair of ugly interceptions. He simply is out of excuses. He is in year three. He had his full slate of receivers. He had time to get his head straight after sitting out the last few weeks.

Gase for his part did little to help, building his entire game plan through a 37 year old running back as he has for most of the season.

In the aftermath of the loss his attention has been focused on a bizarre feud with the media because he won’t state publicly who is calling the plays.

I’m not sure how much of a competitive advantage this is providing when the offense only generates 3 points. It isn’t like defensive players are confused how to stop Frank Gore when he gets his 14th carry up the middle in three quarters because they aren’t sure whether Gase or Dowell Loggains sent the play call in.

This week I give two anti-game balls. How many do you give, and who gets them?