Another year, the same old result.
The Jets were officially eliminated from the playoffs Sunday, extending their postseason drought to 11 years. They did it in fitting fashion with another absolute dud in a long line of duds during this 11-year stretch. They lost 30-9 at MetLife Stadium to the Saints, a team that entered the game on a five-game losing streak.
The Jets looked lifeless on offense, totaling 251 yards and failing to reach the end zone for the first time since September. Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson had another rough outing, completing 19 of 42 for 202 yards.
In Wilson’s defense, he had very little to work with. He was without starting wide receivers Corey Davis and Elijah Moore as well as running backs Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman and Austin Walter.
The 11-year playoff drought is the longest active streak in the NFL and ties the Jets’ record for futility (1970-80). The reasons for that drought were on full display Sunday with a lack of talent on the field and an inability to execute even against a mediocre Saints team.
The Jets are 3-10, losing at least 10 games for the fifth time in six years. The Saints improved to 6-7.
The Jets’ offense was pathetic. They went three-and-out on their first three drives and had to punt six times in the game. Wilson was inaccurate, bouncing short passes and sailing others over his receivers’ heads. He did not get much help. Ty Johnson dropped three passes in the first half. Denzel Mims committed back-to-back penalties that stalled a drive before halftime. Still, Wilson needs to play better.
The Jets’ defense let the Saints march down the field to start the game, but was able to hold New Orleans to a field goal. The Saints seemed content to go with a conservative game plan that featured a lot of Alvin Kamara (27 carries for 120 yards, 1 TD) and just the occasional throw from Taysom Hill, who was playing with an injured middle finger on his throwing hand. Hill ran for two touchdowns, including a 44-yarder with 1:07 left in the game.
New Orleans opened the game with a 14-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 23-yard field goal from Brett Maher.
The Jets tied the game early in the second quarter with a 36-yard field goal from new kicker Eddy Pineiro, who was signed on Monday.
Kamara grinded out yards against a defense that is still struggling to stop the run. Kamara broke one for a 16-yard touchdown, juking cornerback Bryce Hall and then running through safety Ashtyn Davis on the way to the end zone and a 10-3 lead with just under four minutes left in the first half.
The Jets put together a 10-play, 47-yard drive before halftime that finished with another Pineiro field goal to send the Jets into halftime trailing 10-6. The Jets have not led at halftime in any game this season. While the field goal drew the Jets closer, the drive felt like it could have resulted in more.
The Jets got the ball on their own 25 with 3:42 left in the second quarter and all three timeouts. They showed no sense of urgency, though, and coach Robert Saleh waited to use the timeouts until there were 31 seconds left in the half. The Jets reached the Saints’ 24 and then Mims was penalized first for hands to the face then for an illegal formation. The penalties pushed the Jets back to the 39 with 20 seconds left. That drained time off the clock and the Jets were forced to take the field goal.
The Saints managed to tack on two more Maher field goals in the second half to stretch the lead to 16-6.
Hill scored two running touchdowns in the fourth quarter, one of 2 yards and one of 44 yards to give the Saints a 30-9 lead.
