Jets Manhandle Raiders

The game was never close as the Jets overpowered the Oakland Raiders in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. The Jets even had a spectacular athletic pick six in the second half. There were a lot of heroes but this one has to start with two people, Sam Darnold and Adam Gase. Starting with Gase this coach looked as if he had one foot out the door with the Jets season sinking fast. Many including myself thought this would be a one and done for Adam Gase. Somehow he is turning it around and his play calling the last three weeks has been nothing less than excellent. He has shown creativity and efficiency with the offense and somehow even the offensive line has improved. Thirty four seems to be the magic number with the Jets scoring that amount in each of the last three weeks ( Jets 34-Giants 27, Jets 34-Redskins 17, Jets 34-Raiders 3). Gase continues to be aggressive with reverses and flea flickers every week. He has made the offense unpredictable and has shown confidence in all the skill positions. As far as Sam Darnold (20-29, 315 yards, 2 TD passes, 1 TD rushing), I can’t help but think he had some effects from Mono up through the Dolphin game. He is playing at his best since he became a Jet looking confident and sure of himself. Even when the Jets have say a 3rd and 14, Jet fans are showing a confidence that Sam will get it done. His supporting cast is showing a lot of trust in Sam Darnold and he spread the ball around hitting 9 different receivers. Robby Anderson (4 rec. 86 yds. 1 TD)  had a very good game as did Le’Veon Bell showing his pass catching prowess with a great one handed catch in the first quarter. Even punt returner Braxton Berrios had a catch for 69 yards falling just short of the goal line. Berrios also had a brilliant 26-yard punt return. He has looked real good and Gase should consider playing him more at wide receiver. On defense it was a total team effort holding the Raiders to only a field goal. Jamal Adams played well and added a 1/2 sack to his total. Defensive backs Bless Austin and Arthur Maulet continue to play like seasoned veterans. But it was a pick six by Brian Poole that was the defensive play of the day. Never mind the horrid weather Poole reached down low after a Derek Carr pass bounced off a receiver and made an incredible athletic catch and then went with ease into the end zone. Jet fans should enjoy the moment and don’t look backwards with the schedule and what could have been. Adam Gase, Greg Williams and Sam Darnold have got the Jets on the right track. Today was fun!

Green Tidbits
…..The roughing the passer call on the Raiders was an awful call. But we’ll take it!…..Ryan Griffin continues to shine. His block on Sam’s keeper was text book. And the good news is the Jets resigned him for 3 more years…..Imagine a few years ago I was wishing and hoping the Jets would lose that last game and they would draft QB Marcus Mariotta…..Any Jet fans missing Trumaine Johnson and Daryl Roberts? Or for that matter Leonard Williams…..Jamal Adams has got to control himself. Announcer was right saying he will eventually be hit with taunting…..Jets need to lock up guard Alex Lewis who could walk after the season. For that matter they should do the same with guard Tom Compton…..Telling it like it is the Raiders dropped way too many first half passes…..Gase’s play calling is making up for offensive line deficiencies big time. Calling mis-direction plays, reverses and flea flickers have given Sam Darnold more time…..Bell continues to play hard on every play. He is getting close to breaking one…..Unfortunately Jets defensive coordinator will probably be a head coach next year somewhere else…..Extension on Ryan Griffin shows Adam Gase has fans in the locker room…..Twice Sam could have run for a first down but decided to pass it. He has to learn to take the sure thing…..Sam’s skill set to slide out of trouble is getting better and better…..

What The Jets Scribes Are Saying
Manish Mehta, NY Daily News
When Adam Gase finally takes off his baseball cap and falls asleep Sunday night (assuming he doesn’t sleep with it on), he should revel in his best game yet as the leader of the Jets universe. The embattled coach has absorbed enough body blows during this turbulent season to last a lifetime, but he pushed all the right buttons in a 34-3 laugher over the Raiders.
Give credit where it’s absolutely due: Gase dialed up one smart, creative play after another to help the Jets win their third in a row for the first time since Weeks 3-5 in 2017. Gregg Williams’ defense also erased Derek Carr, who was benched in the third quarter when the outcome was no longer in doubt. The same Jets that sleepwalked through the first two months have scored 34 points for a third consecutive week, prompting some to wonder if a playoff run is not dead yet.

“You think about a lot of things during the day,” Sam Darnold said with a smile. “So, I mean, that’s definitely in the back of my head.… The vibe is a lot better for sure. We just got to keep putting in the work during the week. If we do that, this vibe’s going to continue.”

The Jets (4-7) made a respectable team look like a dumpster fire thanks to good coaching and execution in all three phases, a welcomed change for an outfit that looked lost not that long ago. The Jets are in line to extend to their winning ways with a tomato can on the horizon (Bengals), but this victory deserves its proper attention. And Gase deserves praise for the way he called this one.“When you’re not three-and-out,” Gase said, “When you get first down, second down, first, third-and-short, it makes it a lot easier.”

Gase was in a play-calling groove, helped by a young quarterback, who is growing with each passing week. Darnold went 20-for-29 for 315 yards, two touchdowns and a season-high 127.8 passer rating…..After the Jets stuffed Oakland on fourth and 1, Gase & Co. made them pay again. Gase dialed up a flea flicker on the ensuing drive that netted 31 yards to Robby Anderson. Darnold then found Anderson for a 1-yard touchdown to officially cue the laugh track.

“I think we can definitely feel when he’s in a rhythm,” Darnold said of Gase. “But I think it’s fair to say that it’s up to us to make sure that we keep him in that rhythm and we stay in rhythm with ourselves, too, because it’s up to us to continue to get first downs and keep the chains moving. When we do that, everyone’s rolling.”

Brian Poole’s pick-six on Carr’s pass intended for Tyrell Williams 14 seconds later put the punctuation mark on this impressive performance.

Gase has been rightfully criticized for myriad reasons this season, but he should be lauded for everything Sunday.

Win No. 5 is coming in Cincinnati in seven days.

Brian Costello, NY Post
With the weather raw and rainy and the home team sporting a 3-7 record, it was a late-arriving Jets crowd into MetLife Stadium for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. There was however, a hearty contingent of Raiders fans — decked out in their black and silver, masks, makeup and all — who turned up early and formed their own pregame Black Hole of sorts, taking over the front several rows of the north end zone. Raiders players trotted onto the field first for warm-ups and the Oakland fans cheered loudly. Moments later, as the Jets players ran onto the field, loud boos were audible, and they didn’t fall on deaf ears. It infuriated the Jets, who were so livid some indicated after the game that it ignited their fast start en route to a 34-3 rout of the Raiders. The reception the Jets received was the topic of conversation when the players returned to the locker room before the game. Some, including safety and team leader Jamal Adams, spoke up, firing up the rest of the team. “We felt disrespected,’’ Jets left tackle Kelvin Beachum told The Post. “We were very unhappy. You never want to get booed in your own stadium, and we came out for pregame warm-ups and were getting booed. I’ve never had that happen in my career in a game at home.“We felt disrespected,’’…..Listening to some of the Oakland players speak after the game seemed to back up Adams’ assertion that the Raiders, who entered the day on a three-game winning streak, might have taken the Jets lightly. “We just didn’t show up today,’’ Raiders defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins said. “We didn’t show up … didn’t bring enough energy,’’ Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby said.Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said, “Give praise to the Jets; they showed up better than we did,’’ added, “Hopefully, this is an eye-opener.’’