Jets architects of their own downfall in undisciplined, penalty-filled loss to Broncos

EAST RUTHERFORD – This was a bad loss. More alarming: The sheer number of characteristics the Jets displayed that are reserved for bad football teams.

Lifeless. Undisciplined. Predictable. Unprepared. Overconfident.

It was unacceptable.

Forget the names on the depth chart. The Jets are still among the most talented across the NFL. But Sunday’s 10-9 clunker to the Broncos illustrated why that only takes you so far. Especially when you display the backbreaking tendencies this team was supposed to be past.

The Jets fancy themselves a Super Bowl contender.

Their best hope is that this was nothing more than a rain-drenched blip, or they’ll be challenged to even sniff the postseason.

“Obviously,” head coach Robert Saleh said, “It was sloppy.”

The Jets were supposed to be past games like this. They had 11 days to prepare after dismantling New England on Thursday night. They were the far superior team – eight-point favorites for the first time since 2011. They were in their building. The Broncos have a solid defense, they do. But if the Jets are as good as they say they are then the opposing defense should not matter. Using that as an excuse is loser talk.

Excuse the defense from any and all criticism. They did their part. There were some struggles on the ground (126 yards), but nothing overly concerning. Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix finished with 60 passing yards. According to ESPN Stats and Information, it’s the fewest passing yards a player has had in a win (20 attempts) since Eli Manning had 59 yards in a 13-10 victory over the Dolphins in 2007.

No. This one is on the offense. It was a pitiful choke job– disaster no matter how much rain fell from the sky. The Jets did not score an offensive touchdown despite having one series reach a first and goal at the one-yard line. Referees flagged them for 15 penalties (13 accepted) with 10 on the offense (8 accepted).

The offense reverted back to its boring ways, lacking even elementary levels of innovation. Nathaniel Hackett, who earned praise for his play calling against New England, reverted back to the man the Jets tried to replace in the offseason.

Receivers and tight ends ran wrong routes. Linemen missed blocking assignments. Running backs ran soft through holes. There were mental errors and misses from communication breakdowns.

“I can’t say I had a spectacular game,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who finished 24 of 42 for 225 yards. “The weather sucked, but so did some of my throws.”

It’s just the fifth time in Rodgers’ career his team didn’t score a touchdown. And in two of those games he left early via injury.

Breece Hall, who many believed was primed for an All-Pro year, had 10 carries for four yards. Two of those carries were on the Jets’ unsuccessful goal-line trip. Wideout Garrett Wilson had five catches (good), but for only 41 yards (bad). The Jets threw to him just once in the first half. The line allowed five sacks and 14 quarterback hits.

“Our pass protection could have been better,” guard Alijah Vera-Tucker said. “But our line played our asses off.”

The Jets shot themselves in the foot with dumb penalties throughout the game – cadence was an issue, Saleh said. Rodgers was not on the same page as his receivers, especially on the two potential game-winning drives that came up short, first on a fourth down sack and then a missed 50-yard field goal attempt. The first half was filled with examples of the Broncos out-hustling the Jets, wanting it more. By the end of the game, Rodgers was shouting at anyone within earshot – directing glares toward Hall, anger towards receivers, frustration at his line.

Saleh and his group have been here long enough – four years. Again: You can exclude the defense from all criticisms, but on offense, it’s just not good enough. The Jets on Sunday looked very much like they did a year ago – a discombobulated disaster. A group run by an inept, in-over-his-head offensive coordinator trying to be saved by his quarterback.

The lone saving grace was that Hackett was mostly better against the Titans and definitely better against the Patriots. But there were two games last season where he looked competent (Houston, Kansas City), only to regress.

“It’s frustrating,” said Wilson.

Indeed. And it can’t continue.

The Jets had a talking point the first month of this season. Against San Francisco, Tennessee and Denver they pushed towards the talent on the defensive side of the ball. It would be hard for them to get going. They get paid too, the old football cliche.

In past years that was acceptable – back when the Jets were at a player disadvantage most weekends. This team believes they’re capable of excellence. Who, exactly, do they expect to see on a possible run to the Super Bowl? Scrubs and castoffs?

If they’re as good as they believe they are they should have success against anyone they face. They have the players to do that – that’s what it looks like on paper. They need the coaches there to scheme themselves into situations. Identify weaknesses and attack them. If there are protection breakdowns and receivers running the wrong routes … that means they don’t understand it the way it’s being taught.

It’s on this staff to connect to them and work with them to make it work for them.

That’s not happening right now. There is a clear disconnect. Evident in more than one way.

At his post-game press conference, Saleh attributed the majority of the offensive penalties to cadence problems. He said maybe the Jets weren’t “ready” or “good enough” for that yet.

Rodgers, when asked if dialing it back could help, seemed to scoff.

“That’s one way to do it,” Rodgers said. “The other way is to hold them accountable.”

The Jets have some cleaning up to do. Because if this loss to the Broncos foreshadowed what’s to come, they will accomplish nothing more than what they have the last 13 years.

If the Jets are content beating up the lower-level teams in the league, then they’re fine. There will be games on their schedule where they have such far and away better players that nothing the opposition does will make a difference on the scoreboard. The victory over New England is a prime example.

But this team wants more. They believe the roster is set to make a run.

They’re threatening to derail that with penalties and self-inflicted wounds, and that falls on the staff.

“It’s unacceptable,” Saleh said. “We have to get that cleaned up.”