Jets embarrassed on both sides of ball in blowout loss to Cardinals
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks to the sideline during the second half of an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz. Credit: AP/Ross D. Franklin
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The good feelings the Jets had after a comeback win last week disappeared in the desert Sunday afternoon. So did their dreams of getting back in the playoff race.
The Jets were embarrassed by the Arizona Cardinals, 31-6, at State Farm Stadium.
This was a pathetic performance by a team that needs everything to go right if it is to end its playoff drought at 13 years.
But the Jets did nothing right in falling to 3-7.
Their defense couldn’t stop Kyler Murray and their offense never clicked, leading to the sixth loss in their last seven games and their most lopsided defeat of the season.
“After a long layoff, they were not prepared to play,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “We didn’t execute even close to our standard and that falls on my shoulders 100%. I didn’t do a good enough job getting these guys ready.”
Ulbrich certainly shares in the blame, but there was plenty to go around. The offense didn’t get in the end zone and the defense had a very hard time keeping the Cardinals out of it.
“We’re playing like trash,” Garrett Wilson said.
Ulbrich talked all week about the challenge of stopping James Conner and the Cardinals’ running game. He said the defensive coaches did a tackling presentation on how to bring down Conner.
But it didn’t work. Nothing did.
The Cardinals (6-4) amassed 406 yards of offense and scored on their first five possessions, recording four touchdowns. Arizona’s first punt came in the fourth quarter.
The Jets struggled to tackle anyone who had the football. They had 20 missed tackles, according to NextGen Stats. Arizona ran for 147 yards.
The Jets also were unprepared for the Cardinals’ passing attack. Murray carved them up, completing 22 of 24 passes — including his last 17 throws — for 266 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for two touchdowns.
“They probably passed the ball a little bit more than maybe we anticipated,” Ulbrich said. “We had a huge emphasis in stopping the run, understanding that was the style of that offense. They made their money in the run game.
“Kyler did an amazing job. Credit to him to hit us.”
Conner scored a rushing touchdown but ran for only 33 yards. He caught five passes for 80 yards. Rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. Trey McBride had four for 71 yards.
Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 35 passes for 151 yards, took some hard hits and was sacked three times. This is the first time a Rodgers-led team has been 3-7.
“It’s been a lot of emotions this year for sure,” he said about the season. “I thought after a big win Thursday night, nice long week, we’re going to come out with a lot of energy and win the game. We didn’t come out with great energy on either side of the ball. Offensively, you’re not going to beat anybody scoring six points.”
The Jets were riding high after beating the Texans on Halloween with a riveting three-touchdown performance in the second half. They were spirited in practice and in the locker room, believing this was the turning point of their season.
It was a mirage or a tease — or both.
It was 24-6 at halftime on Sunday, but the Jets had a chance to close to 24-13 early in the third quarter. They had a second-and-goal from the 3, but Rodgers’ passes on second and third down were incomplete. He was sacked and fumbled on fourth down.
Breece Hall totaled 83 yards on 14 touches and Wilson caught five passes for 41 yards. Davante Adams had only six catches (on 13 targets) for 31 yards. The Jets were outscored 17-0 after the first quarter.
“Disappointing,” Rodgers said.
“It’s frustrating,” Adams said. “It’s just a weird, weird day. We came out and did some good stuff, but we just didn’t do enough to compete with those boys today.”
Rodgers and Adams talked about the Jets not having much energy again. They definitely let the Cardinals take them out of their game and zap them of that energy.
The Jets drove to the Arizona 8 on the first series and 27 on their second. Both times they had to settle for field goals by new kicker Spencer Shrader.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals marched up and down the field. They racked up 239 yards of offense and 18 first downs in the first half.
A big defensive breakdown on the game’s third play proved to be an omen for what was to come.
Murray dumped it off to Conner for a 44-yard gain that initially was called a touchdown. After it was reviewed, Conner was ruled down at the 1. He ran it in two plays later.
“It’s a team game,” Adams said. “If the defense is not having a great day, we’ve got to find a way on offense to try to pick them up, and vice versa.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
