The 2020 New York Jets have now matched the worst start in franchise history (0-8) thanks to a defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs.
- New York Jets 9 (0-8)
- Kansas City Chiefs 35 (7-1)
- NFL, Week 8, Final, Box Score
- Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Only the New England Patriots separate the 2020 New York Jets from franchise infamy.
Adam Gase’s most recent defeat, a dispirited 35-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, means his team has now matched the worst start in franchise history. Only Rich Kotite‘s 1996 Jets started a season 0-8. (A 199-yard Adrian Murrell effort against the Arizona Cardinals gave the 1996 squad its first and only victory of the season.)
On Sunday, a familiar story unfolded at Arrowhead Stadium. The Jets hung around in the first half only to allow the competition to adjust and breeze past them after halftime.
Three Sergio Castillo field goals helped keep the Jets within striking distance—a 21-9 halftime deficit. At one point, the scoreboard read 14-9 Chiefs with three minutes to go in the first half. Unfortunately, Patrick Mahomes marched them on a seven-play, 76-yard drive that resulted in a 3-yard Travis Kelce score.
Mahomes' third TD of the game ⏰🏹#NYJvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/RWpXx1XNkg
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 1, 2020
A 26-yard touchdown to Demarcus Robinson in the third quarter put the game away for good.
Lighting it up 🍯⚡️#NYJvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/QZuqJXLGdz
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 1, 2020
The reigning Super Bowl MVP finished the game with 416 yards and five touchdowns on 31 of 42 passing. He picked apart Gregg Williams’s defense in every way and did so without a rushing game.
Young Clyde Edwards-Helaire couldn’t muster much (21 yards on six carries), and neither could former Jet Le’Veon Bell (seven yards on six carries) who looked extremely slow within the framework of the Chiefs offense.
Travis Kelce led the way for Kansas City through the air with 109 yards and the team’s third touchdown of the day on eight receptions.
Stud wideout Tyreek Hill tallied the Chiefs’ second touchdown of the game. It was a chunk play (an out-and-up route) that completely flipped Ashtyn Davis‘s hips downfield.
Can't keep 🐆 out of the end zone!#NYJvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/vcPYH0kcKa
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 1, 2020
The score happened courtesy of a fake punt that had Pierre Desir lost in space.
🚨 FAKE PUNT 🚨#NYJvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/N4LR9pzTsd
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 1, 2020
Hill finished with a capper in the fourth quarter: a 41-yard touchdown.
MAKE THAT 🖐 TOUCHDOWNS!#NYJvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/QUiU4J5lOs
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 1, 2020
Hill finished with 98 yards and two touchdowns on four grabs.
The only other not-accounted-for-touchdown came courtesy of a Mecole Hardman score on a jet-motion push pass on the Chiefs’ opening drive.
Mecole turns on the jets on the way to the end zone ✈️#NYJvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/hBpYYj4Gor
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 1, 2020
For the Jets, Sam Darnold didn’t exactly impress. While he didn’t throw any interceptions, he threw for just 133 yards on 18 of 30 passing.
Perhaps the only offensive highlight of the day went to No. 11. Darnold found Denzel Mims on a fade in a one-on-one situation that went for 27 yards.
Darnold ➡ Mims 👍
📺 #NYJvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/VxqNAx1now
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 1, 2020
Mims caught just two balls for 42 yards while Braxton Berrios led the team with eight receptions for just 34 yards.
On the ground, not much was doing either. Frank Gore‘s 30 yards on 10 carries paced the team.
Quinnen Williams flashed a couple of times in the first half. He tallied two more tackles for loss and nearly came up with a sack on Mahomes (QB hit).
Kicker Sergio Castillo finished the day 3-4 with his only non-success coming at the end of the first half thanks to a blocked field goal. That, coupled with the fake punt, means Brant Boyer’s unit had a tough day as well.
The 0-8 Jets will look to avoid organizational infamy (an 0-9 start) with a win over the Patriots on Monday Night Football next week.
