New York Jets, Buffalo Bills halftime report: Sam Darnold, defense struggling

Sam Darnold and the entire New York Jets team is struggling mightily against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season.

• New York Jets 3 (0-0)
• Buffalo Bills 21 (0-0)
• Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
• Week 1, Halftime

No matter how pessimistic a fan may have been heading into this unusual season, the New York Jets exceeded negative expectations.

At halftime, the Jets trail the Buffalo Bills by a score of 21-3. Only a Sam Ficken field goal generated from a hurry-up drive put points on the board. And quite honestly, if Josh Allen had not fumbled twice, the score could look much worse.

The Jets started on offense first and promptly went three and out. In fact, they went three and out on the first three drives of the game. Sam Darnold looked terrible all half until that final drive.

Allen put up the first points of the game when he kept it for a two-yard score:

Feels good to be back in the end zone. #NYJvsBUF | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/m66EHnV9ej

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 13, 2020

Just over three minutes later, Allen found rookie Zack Moss for another touchdown:

Zack Moss' first career NFL reception and touchdown. A thing of beauty. #NYJvsBUF | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/xZ7LNZWNWg

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 13, 2020

Allen tallied his third score of the day when he hit John Brown on a wide receiver screen in the second quarter:

You don't want this Smoke. 😎#NYJvsBUF | #GoBills pic.twitter.com/IwDUPinE6B

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 13, 2020

It was the perfect call against an all-out blitz. The Bills offense gets up to the line quickly, looks over the defense and allows the play-caller to help decide what to do against the defensive look (headset is cut off at 15 seconds).

Fifteen is the key number. If the play-caller does not trust the QB to make the right call based on the D look, get up to the line quickly, look it over and help him out.

WR screen against a 7-man rush is just the easiest thing in the world. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/25fxo1LqYw

— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) September 13, 2020

Stuff like this that makes life easier for the offense never seems to be executed by the Jets.

Allen enters the locker room 20 of 26 for 161 yards, two touchdowns through the air and one on the ground. He’s also lost two fumbles, one of which was Marcus Maye’s doing.

Maye and McDougald on the turnover. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/Jh71AwJTet

— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) September 13, 2020

Darnold finishes the first half just 8 of 18 for 86 yards and an interception.

Clearly, the Jets are missing Jamal Adams. Without any semblance of a pass rush, Allen has all day in the pocket. The new-look Jets offensive line has put up mixed results. It’s been an improvement yet not close to dominant.

Darnold has missed several open receivers while his weapons have also dropped a couple of balls. Overall, this team just did not look ready to play.