Quarterback Sam Darnold showcased the highest of highs and lowest of lows in the New York Jets’ Week 3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
- New York Jets 7 (0-3)
- Indianapolis Colts 36 (2-1)
- NFL, Week 3, Final, Box Score
- Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Just like that, the New York Jets are 0-3. Only one more loss is needed to match last season’s 0-4 start, and Sam Darnold didn’t even need to come down with mono this time.
Instead, Darnold’s simply showcasing very few highs and many lows, which carried over to Week 3’s 36-7 road loss at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts.
Darnold finished the game with 168 yards on 17 of 29 passing, a highlight-reel touchdown and three interceptions. He actually threw for three total touchdowns in the game. Unfortunately, two of them went to the team wearing blue.
It started early. On the first series of the game, Darnold threw a pick-6 to veteran cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
XAVIER RHODES PICK SIX!!
📺 @CBS | #NYJvsIND pic.twitter.com/luHlRQHT6f
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 27, 2020
Interestingly, the Jets offense moved the ball well. New York totaled 188 yards to Indy’s 207 in the first half. The turnovers were just too much. For example, trailing 17-7 with around 5:30 to go in the first half, Darnold threw another pick to Rhodes, this time in the end zone.
🚧 RHODES ARE STILL CLOSED 🚧
📺 CBS | #NYJvsIND pic.twitter.com/bLR53pzKs3
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 27, 2020
The trifecta was capped by T.J. Carrie, whose gimme pick-6 was as easy a defensive score any player could experience.
THE DEFENSE DID IT AGAIN ‼️@tj_carrie takes it to the house.
📺 CBS | #NYJvsIND pic.twitter.com/iOwevEY14z
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 27, 2020
The highs didn’t come as often. After the first pick-6, the Jets offense responded nicely, marching down the field on a 14-play, 88-yard drive that resulted in a dandy of a Braxton Berrios touchdown. Darnold escaped the pocket and did his on-the-run thing fans have been accustomed to for the last two seasons.
When Sam Darnold "just plays," he's tremendous. What a job and Braxton Berrios can be a player in this league. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/jZmRm3PFwM
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) September 27, 2020
That was pretty much it. Darnold missed weapons on several occasions, including a wide-open Chris Herndon on a second down with the first half winding down.
Defensively, Gregg Williams’s unit is a mess. Quinnen Williams was dead silent and the unit continued to miss tackles (despite the more energized practice week). Perhaps the only positive defensively was John Franklin-Myers, who created pressure on a couple of occasions.
Rookie left tackle Mekhi Becton left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. Originally tagged as doubtful to return, the organization quickly downgraded him to out. His status for Week 4 remains unclear and is just another in a long line of Jet injuries in the Gase era.
After the Berrios touchdown, Philip Rivers and the Colts marched down the field with relative ease. The 11-play, 75-yard drive resulted in a 1-yard Mo Alie-Cox touchdown reception.
Touchdown 4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for 1️⃣7️⃣.
📺 CBS | #NYJvsIND pic.twitter.com/XHD99x532M
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 27, 2020
It was all Indy from that point forward.
Jonathan Taylor finished with 59 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Rivers went for 217 and a score (his 400th career touchdown pass) on 17 of 21 passing.
Frank Gore tallied 57 yards on 15 carries while rookie La’Mical Perine rushed the ball just seven times (24 yards). Berrios led the way for the Jets through the air, totaling 64 yards on four grabs (including the first-quarter touchdown).
A safety was added by the Colts defense in garbage time, which put that unit’s point total on the day to 16, seven more than the Jets entire team put forth.
Next up for the 0-3 Jets will be the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium this coming Thursday night.
This angle of the Sam-to-Braxton TD 😲
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/ixYWlZ2tad
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 27, 2020
First career grab for @lawrencecager3.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/AFwSXSD53F
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 27, 2020
Down goes Darnold. ⚡️
📺 CBS | #NYJvsIND pic.twitter.com/pwndrsrgqe
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 27, 2020
4th and Goal?
It's @JayT23 Time.
📺 CBS | #NYJvsIND pic.twitter.com/1kjup5vEEy
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 27, 2020
