Ryan Fitzpatrick, Todd Bowles, and the rest of the New York Jets were no match or Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
- New York Jets 17 (1-3)
- Seattle Seahawks 27 (3-1)
- NFL, Week 4, Final, Box Score
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
If fans of the New York Jets have to watch Calvin Pryor in one-on-one coverage on the outside again, they may throw up the rest of their lunch.
Todd Bowles, yet again, did not put his defensive personnel in the right spots in order to make a difference against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Wilson carved the up to the tune of 309 yards, 3 TD on 23-of-32 passing plus a Seahawks 27-17 victory.
It was the Russell Wilson show at MetLife Stadium.
The loss moves the Jets to 1-3 and in a complete panic with trips to Pittsburgh and Arizona forthcoming. To make it worse, the undefeated Baltimore Ravens await in Week 7.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was solid, not spectacular on the day. It was obvious that his six interception day in Kansas City was more of a mirage than a reality, but he still wasn’t enough for the Jets on this day. He was picked off three times in the game, two coming late when all hope was lost. His final line looked like this: 261 yards, TD, 3 INT, on 23-of-41 passing.
The biggest culprit was the defense — a defense led by a former Super Bowl winning safety in Bowles.
Jimmy Graham, like Travis Kelce before him, was a terror all afternoon. His 113 yards on six receptions led the Seahawks.
? ONE-HAND GRAB ALERT! ?
This is just so beautiful… @thejimmygraham. #WeAre12 #SEAvsNYJ https://t.co/rW2Lg3rcvv
— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2016
The first touchdown of the game came through the air. Wilson found his running back, C.J. Spiller, on the angle route that abused David Harris and Darron Lee:
Perfect. Throw.@DangeRussWilson threads the needle to… @CJSPILLER! ??? #SEAvsNYJ https://t.co/Q2OKj2ZSRj
— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2016
Another Wilson TD in the second quarter, this time to Tanner McEvoy on a play Pryor fell to the ground while covering the middle-third, made the score 14-3:
WIIIIIIIDE open.@DangeRussWilson + Tanner McEvoy = 42-yard @Seahawks TD. #SEAvsNYJ https://t.co/pxVvyMmadq
— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2016
The high point for the Jets on the day came when Fitz found Brandon Marshall on this back shoulder throw with just 13 seconds left in the first half:
Sherman vs. Marshall…
Advantage: @BMarshall.@NYJets Touchdown! #SEAvsNYJ https://t.co/dfPXcIbCLi
— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2016
From that moment on, it was all Seattle. Wilson continued to tear up the Jets pass coverage and the Jets offense continued to do very little.
Matt Forte ran for 27 yards on 14 carries while Bilal Powell chipped in with 18 yards on three attempts.
The backbreaker, offensively, came in the third quarter when the Jets were down 17-10. Looking for B-Marsh on the back shoulder, Richard Sherman picked off Fitz:
Fitzpatrick throws at Richard Sherman…
Fitzpatrick gets PICKED by Richard Sherman.#SEAvsNYJ https://t.co/JmfyW6MQDR— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2016
Fans will get on Fitzpatrick for today. There’s no question about it. When you’re the leader and you hold out for $12 million, you’ll be held to a higher standard.
The worrisome problem here is that Fitz isn’t even close to the biggest issue. How this head coach continues to put his defensive personnel in poor spots boggles the mind. Pryor cannot guard anybody one-on-one, no less Graham on the outside. And Harris needs to come off the field in sub packages, something that never happens.
Bowles stubbornness in continuing to leave two linebackers on the field when opposing offenses go with a 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB look is killing this defense.
Game Notes:
Darrelle Revis left this game in the third quarter and did not return. It looked like a knee.
The Jets defensive line was solid, but didn’t play a spectacular brand of ball many Jets fans thought they’d see.
New York’s late touchdown came from rookie Charone Peake when he picked up a Fitz fumble and took it to the house.