NFL program makers have shown no mercy for the Jets.
Gang Green faces another competitor in the playoffs this week at the Rams. The Jets (0-13) could use one game against a team in their weight class, but that didn’t come, as the last three games have been against teams with hopes in the playoffs and that continues on Sunday in Inglewood, California.
The jets enter this game with the worst offense in football (269.8 meters per match). Rams (9-4) enters the game with the best defense in football (allowing 285.8 meters per game). It could become very ugly.
The question about the Jets for weeks was whether this team would pack it up and put in less effort. Even in the 40-3 loss to the Seahawks last week, it didn’t seem like a lack of effort, just a lack of talent.
Coach Adam Gase was asked this week if players have started dreaming of where they will fly when the season ends in two weeks.
“I didn’t see that,” Gase said. “I think the boys did a good job of resetting and preparing to go to the next one. They know what kind of challenge we have this week, they know how we have to play, they know that this has to be a well-played complementary football game for us to position ourselves in the fourth quarter. “
This is the Jets’ third trip to the West Coast in the last month and their second in two weeks. The original plan was to stay out of the west and practice between the Seahawks and Rams games, but the COVID-19 protocols made them change those plans and will take four cross-country flights in 10 days.
“I think we were a little lazy on Wednesday, I know that trip was a long one, just trying to get the boys back on schedule and stuff like that,” Gase said. “On Thursday, there was a visible absorption of the level of energy, execution, practice. When I left practice [Thursday] I felt good about the way we were. “
For defender Sam Darnold, a trip to the Los Angeles area should have been a happy return. Darnold grew up about an hour south in San Clemente and reportedly had family and friends in the stands. Instead, he will play in an empty stadium for a team without a victory, with his future in question.
“I was looking forward to going home, to seeing a family, if possible, but obviously it’s not a thing,” Darnold said. “But we look forward to going there and playing a good team and having that opportunity.”