NFL
By: Greg Rector
NY Jets 24 Dallas Cowboys 22
What can be said after losing to a team that entered this game 0-4? Plenty, of course. This was a truly terrible effort right from the start, and this week the typical much better second half surge failed again to result in a victory. This team simply is misguided, and the man responsible for that, Jason Garrett, still has his job as I write this. Cowboys Nation wants him gone, I have wanted him gone for years. Three straight losses are unacceptable, as is repeating a pattern. You have to start well and finish even better, or in the NFL of today, you find yourself as a .500 team.
The Jets defense came to play, stopping the Cowboys at every turn in the first half. Forced into three field goals, the Cowboys offense stalled time and again in the first half. The play calling again was just too reminiscent of Garrett, and not Kellen Moore. There are too many cooks in the kitchen, and that must stop right now. Losing Amari Cooper (thigh bruise) early on should not have altered the game plan the way it appeared to. The Cowboys were missing both tackles again, yet instead of pounding the football on the ground to get momentum, we saw a mixed bag of lackluster calls, all of which saw very limited success. The penalties also took their toll, stopping any drive from succeeding.
The return of Sam Darnold certainly was used as motivation by the Jets. While not a huge offensive day for them, the 92-yard pass play to Robby Anderson, was the nail in the Cowboys coffin. Le’veon Bell was contained mostly, but overall the defense did not get enough pressure on Darnold, all game long. When the Cowboys finally got close, the Jets methodically marched downfield that lead to a field goal, giving them what turned out to be the winning margin. This defense is only good, not elite. Robert Quinn had two sacks. He was the only defender to get to Darnold. That’s not good enough against a guy who has missed weeks.
The most significant factor, though, is Coach Clapper. There’s a GIF floating around showing no player shaking his hand after the Elliott TD. He has lost that locker room. This is an untenable situation. Coaches have a shelf life, and Garrett is way beyond his expiry date. It doesn’t matter if you face an undefeated or a winless opponent when you NEVER answer the bell in the first round, you are rarely going to win any fight. Relying upon making adjustments to what your opponent does, instead of dictating the game yourselves, is a formula to fail. This has been a hallmark of his tenure. The time has come Jerry; your yes man must go. There’s no other choice. Kris Richard should be named the interim head coach, and a new voice will yield better results. Zero NFC Championship games after nine-plus seasons that is mediocrity. America’s Team was never about mediocrity. They were once a franchise that you knew would be a battle. Those days are long over. The players must be committed to “Defending The attitude in far too long a time. Injuries are never an excuse for losses. Next man up, answer the damn bell. You never hear anyone in Foxboro use that excuse.
As I finish this, Garrett still has a job. That’s all you need to know about the sorry state of this organization.
On to the battle for the division next Sunday night against #FlyEaglesFly
You can find me on Twitter @GregCowboys
Photo Credit: dallasnews.com
