With Trevor Lawrence out of the picture, Sam Darnold continues to support the Jets’ argument, keeping him as a defender in 2021.
Darnold played a clean, if not spectacular, game in the 23-16 victory over the Browns on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Darnold did not return the ball for the third game in a row. This is the longest stretch of Darnold’s career without a turnover.
“In terms of not turning the ball around and playing consistently like that, I thought I played well,” Darnold said. “Obviously, I thought there were some decisions, maybe I don’t take some of the throws I could have made. However, looking at the tape, I think there will be some decisions that I will want back or maybe I will throw at my first reading and I will not refrain from it. There are some things like that, but overall I’m happy I’m not turning the ball around and I didn’t score when I had to. “
Darnold passed 16 of 32 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball seven times for 20 yards, Browns’ quiet Malcolm Smith in one piece.
The 23-year-old had to face speculation that the Jets had landed at No. 1 and Lawrence, the Clemson star, throughout the season. Now, however, the Jets are locked in pick no. 2 and Lawrence seems to be heading for the Jaguars, who secured pick no. 1 with their Sunday loss and Jets victory.
“It’s what it is,” Darnold said. “Given the season, there will be a discussion about choosing number one or whatever you can imagine, so for me I just did a good job of adjusting it and going to work every week, and that’s exactly true for the whole our team. I feel like all the guys in the locker room have even put their heads down and gone to work every week so far, and again, we’re just looking to finish it against a good Pats team. “
TE Chris Herndon had four catches for 34 meters and a touchdown. It was the biggest catch since the first week in Buffalo, when he was six. The Jets needed production from Herndon, along with close teammate Ryan Griffin on the reserve list / COVID-19.
“I feel like I closed today, especially since Ryan Griffin wasn’t here unfortunately,” Herndon said. “I knew someone would have to step up and play an extra role. I feel like I did that today and I did that at a high level for my team. “
RB Frank Gore has 16,000 meters in his career, after winning 48 on Sunday. He is the third player in NFL history to reach this mark, joining Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. Gore left the game in the second half with a chest injury. … RG Josh Andrews has gone out to fill the gap left. … The Jets finished 1-7 at home this season.