New York Jets Lose Another Ugly Game, Fall To Carolina Panthers 13-6
The lowly New York Jets lost a second straight stinker of a game today, falling to the Carolina Panthers 13-6 at home. Last week’s dreadful performance in London against the Denver Broncos may not have cost Justin Fields his starting quarterback position, but it appears that today’s effort did. The Jets are now 0-7, and lost today despite Carolina losing their starting Quarterback, Bryce Young, to injury.
The Jets’ Lackluster Offense Continues
New York‘s offense continued to sputter this week. After the team registered negative net passing yards last week, Fields was on a short leash this week. That leash ran out after he went 6-for-12 for just 46 yards in the first half, adding 22 rushing yards. Backup Tyrod Taylor did not do much better. He completed 10 of 22 passes for 126 yards in the second half, but he also threw two interceptions.
In the end, the Jets managed just second-quarter and fourth-quarter field goals by Nick Folk and 220 total yards of offense. Breece Hall led the Jets’ ground game with 38 yards on 11 carries, and Tyler Johnson was the team’s top receiver with three catches for 60 yards. Leading receiver Garrett Wilson, one of the team’s few bright spots this season, did not play due to a knee injury.
The Panthers Lose Young In Victory
Carolina marched down the field on its first drive, going 12 plays and 54 yards before settling for a Ryan Fitzgerald 30-yard field goal. After the Jets tied the score, Carolina scored the game’s only touchdown, a three-yard pass from Young to Xavier Legette, with just over a minute left in the first half. The Panthers opened the second half with another chip-shot field goal from Fitzgerald from 29 yards out to run the score to 13-3. That would be enough, as their defense held the New York offense to just three points the rest of the way.
Young went 15-for-25 for 138 yards and the one score to Legette, but left with an ankle injury in the third quarter. Veteran backup Andy Dalton finished out the game for Carolina, going 4-for-7 for 60 yards. Rico Dowdle led the Panthers’ rushing attack with 79 yards on 17 carries. Chuba Hubbard, who missed the last two weeks with a calf injury, returned to the lineup today, but added just 31 yards on 14 carries. Legette led all receivers with 92 yards on nine catches and the game’s lone touchdown.
The Panthers’ Defense Rules the Day
The stat of this game was the Panthers’ defense. They sacked Jets quarterbacks six times for losses of 33 total yards and intercepted them twice. The six sacks more than doubled the team’s output (5) through the first six games. Defensive End Derrick Brown led the defense with seven total tackles and two sacks. Cornerback Jaycee Horn had both interceptions for Carolina. The defense allowed only one big play all day, a 35-yard catch by Johnson.
What’s Next?
Next week, the winless Jets will travel to Cincinnati to face the 3-4 Bengals. The Panthers, now 4-3, will head home to host the 4-2 Buffalo Bills. The Bills will be well-rested after coming off a bye this week.
