The Jets dropped to a new low in 2019 with one of the most demoralizing losses in recent memory.
Between the shutout (the first against the Jets since 2017), the turnovers (the most by the Jets since 2016) and lack of any offensive cohesiveness (two Sam Darnold red zone turnovers), New York had no shot against the undefeated Patriots. The final result was a 33-0 blowout.
It wouldn’t be hard to argue that Darnold’s Week 7 performance was one of, if not the, worst games by a quarterback this season. He turned the ball over, couldn’t connect with open receivers and literally said he was seeing ghosts during the game.
Incredibly bad play inevitability breeds interesting numbers rarely replicated on the field, though, so here are the four most interesting stats from the Jets’ Week 7 loss.
Sam Darnold’s passer rating
Not much went right for Sam Darnold against the Patriots, and it was reflected in his horrific 3.6 passer rating. (For reference, if a quarterback just threw one incomplete pass, they’d finish with a 39.58 passer rating). Almost all of Darnold’s passes looked off – either overthrows, underthrows or just complete misses – and he finished 11-32 for 86 yards and four interceptions. On top of it all, Darnold had a sack-fumble and had to bat a high snap out of the end zone for a safety.
Shockingly, Darnold’s performance wasn’t the worst of the 2019 season. Dolphins quarterback Josh Rosen finished Week 1 with a passer rating of 2.8 after going 1-3 for five yards and an interception.
Run defense remains strong
Here’s some positivity: The Jets defense allowed less than 100 rushing yards for the third time this season after only giving up 74 yards to the Patriots. Yes, running back Sony Michel still managed three rushing touchdowns, but all three were inside the four-yard line and the Jets only allowed 2.2 yards per carry.
New England isn’t known for its rushing – they Pats are 20th in the league in rushing yards per game – but shutting down one facet of the Patriots offense is a win. After the Week 7 loss, the Jets are now 11th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game with 92.2.
Jets’ turnovers second-most in a game in 2019
Four interceptions from Darnold, a sack-fumble and a muffed punt vaulted the Jets from the 22nd-most giveaways in the league to the fourth-most. It was an epic failure across the board, and a fumbled snap by center Ryan Kalil didn’t even count toward the six turnovers because Darnold batted it out of the end zone for a penalty and subsequent safety.
Only the Buccaneers have turned the ball over more in a single game this season when Jameis Winston tossed five interceptions and Tampa Bay lost two fumbles in a Week 6 loss to the Panthers. This was also the most turnovers given up by the Jets since Week 3 of the 2016 season when Ryan Fitzpatrick threw six interceptions against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jets finished with eight turnovers in a 24-3 loss.
Fewer than 155 total yards
For the third time in six games, the Jets failed to tally more than 155 total yards of offense. Between Darnold’s ineptitude and horrendous blocking by the offensive line, the Jets only mustered 154 yards, which actually isn’t the worst performance by their offense this season.
Previously the Jets only totaled 105 yards against the Patriots in Week 3 and 128 yards against the Eagles in Week 5, and that was with Luke Falk under center. Much was expected from a Sam Darnold-led offense in Week 7, but the second-year quarterback failed to impress in his second game back from mono.
