D.J. Reed feels Jets fans' pain, frustrated with losing streak
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, left, is brought down by Jets cornerback D.J. Reed, right, in the first half of an NFL game Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. Credit: AP/Charles Krupa
As D.J. Reed talked about the Jets giving away another game, he couldn’t hide his frustration or disgust.
Reed was one of the most optimistic Jets before the season, openly stating his belief that this team could do something special. Their loss in the final seconds in New England on Sunday was the Jets’ fifth straight.
“Right now we’re 2-6, which is horrible,” Reed said Monday. “It’s horrible.”
The cornerback said he still believes the Jets have a run in them. Something has to change, though. The fantasy team that the Jets have put together, loaded with future Hall of Famers and multiple-time All-Pros and Pro Bowlers, has yet to give anyone watching any reason to believe they have a turnaround in them.
“It’s frustrating. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not,” Reed said. “We got a talented roster, on paper. Quite honestly, that doesn’t mean anything.”
It doesn’t mean anything because the Jets are playing mistake-filled football. The Jets are moving toward a 14th consecutive season of missing the playoffs, and Reed feels for his team's long-suffering fans.
“I know the Jets fans, I know this season is probably crazy watching this,” Reed said. “I know the talent of this team, like it doesn’t make sense. So I know that’s how the fans feel, most certainly. I know that they’re probably flabbergasted.”
No one is absolved from blame in the Jets’ nosedive.
Jets owner Woody Johnson fired Robert Saleh three weeks ago and appointed interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, saying it would “bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins starting now.”
That hasn’t happened.
In Sunday’s 25-22 loss, kicker Greg Zuerlein was one of the goats and soon may be out of a job. He missed a field goal and an extra point. The Jets are trying out kickers on Tuesday and could have a new one by Thursday night’s game against the Texans.
The Aaron Rodgers-led offense hasn’t produced the big numbers everyone expected. The Jets were called for a costly delay of game on a two-point conversion attempt after Braelon Allen’s 2-yard touchdown run with 2:57 left gave them a 22-17 lead. They didn’t convert the attempt.
The defense allowed the Patriots to go 70 yards on the final drive and score a touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 1. Miscommunication and mistakes led to explosive plays on the Patriots’ game-winning drive.
“We’re not executing like we’re capable of executing,” Ulbrich said. “Until we do that, this thing will not change.”
During the five-game losing streak, the Jets have lost four games by six or fewer points. This game was the third that was by three or fewer, but the Jets’ issues go deeper than Zuerlein’s kicking.
“That game should not have even been close, to be real with you,” Reed said. “You can’t let anybody in the league feel like they can play with you, especially if you’re up a certain amount of points. You’ve got to put your foot on their throat, really.
“That game should have been won. I’m going to be real. That game should have been a win, should have been. That game should have been won.”
A little later, Reed proceeded to go over each game this season and said the Jets also should have beaten the Broncos, Bills and Vikings.
“The games you’re supposed to win, you got to win,” Reed said. “These are games that should be wins in my opinion. I think that’s the frustrating part. It’s not like we’re going out there and we’re just getting whooped, where it’s just like, ‘Dang, what’s going on, we’re losing by three TDs or we’re losing by two.’ It’s painful because we’re losing by four points, a field goal, two points, one point. We’re just coming up right short.
“I feel like we’re finding ways to lose because like I said, we have a talented roster. [General manager] Joe Douglas has put together a talented team. I think that’s the frustrating part — just figuring out why are we not finishing games.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
