Most were excited to see what New York Jets QB Christian Hackenberg could do. That was until the putrid offensive line showed face.
- New York Jets 6 (1-1)
- Detroit Lions 16 (2-0)
- NFL, Preseason Week 2, Final, Box Score
- Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
On the very first series of the game, it was evident that young Christian Hackenberg possessed little chance to showcase improvement. He was absolutely destroyed as young Brandon Shell failed to pick up the left defensive end.
This was the theme all first half as the New York Jets offense showcased a stench very few units could possibly match on its worst day.
The second-year Penn State product played the entire first half, sporting a line closely resembling two series: 2-for-6 for 14 yards. If Hack was up to the challenge of showcasing signs of improvement, nobody would know it. This offensive line simply stunk up the joint on every play. It got to the point in which offensive coordinator John Morton was calling first-down running plays even with the Lions defensive box stacked with nine men.
He simply couldn’t trust his O-line to not get his QB killed. Brian Winters was awful. Wesley Johnson was mediocre. And whoever played right tackle, Shell or Brett Qvale, looked simply overmatched.
Bilal Powell carried the ball nine times for just 32 yards.
Defensively, the Jets didn’t struggle mightily. Considering they were on the field for the entirety of the first half, yielding just 13 points could be considered a win.
The lone backbreaker was an 11-play, 78-yard drive in the second quarter that was finished by a Matt Stafford 5-yard fade to Marvin Jones for the lone touchdown in the first half.
Of all the Jets defenders, Morris Claiborne struggled the most.
Bryce Petty took the reigns in the second half and, while working against the Lions second team defense, enjoyed much more success than Hack and the first team did.
Petty finished 15-of-24 for 160 yards and an interception. He moved the team quite consistently despite not being able to finish off a TD drive. His lone interception came on the final play of the game as he heaved one towards Jonathan Leggett in the end zone.
Myles White led the team with just three receptions for 43 yards. Rookie Chad Hansen finally got on the scoresheet with two grabs for 13 while ArDarius Stewart also snagged two for 23 yards.
Defensively, Corey Lemonier, Josh Martin and Demario Davis picked up sacks. Lemonier came away with the unit’s lone turnover.
Todd Bowles and company will look to sure up that offensive line this week as the team prepares for the annual Snoopy Bowl against the New York Giants next Saturday.