The New York Jets show signs of serious life against the New England Patriots, forcing Trevor Lawrence to feel more distant.
Suddenly, Trevor Lawrence feels incredibly distant.
The New York Jets’ 30-27 loss to the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football produced the perfect outcome. Young players did their thing while the team lost its ninth game, keeping them 1.5 games ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the tank standings.
What it also did was hurt confidence in the tank. Several reasons exist that make it difficult to believe the Jets will end up with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
For one, the presence of the top three wide receivers—Denzel Mims, Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder—presents serious issues for defenses. Mims’s talent is obvious, Perriman’s speed is legit and Crowder’s slot abilities are terrifying.
Joe Flacco took full advantage of that health. The first game of the season that featured all three guys led to the veteran quarterback carving up Bill Belichick’s defense to the tune of 262 yards and three touchdowns through the air. (And considering the Pats’ ninth-ranked pass defense, it’s not as though the Jets did it against the league’s worst.)
Additionally, the Jets finally called an offensive game filled with guts. For the first time this year, the play-caller forced the defense to adjust in-game. After Belichick played the Jets insanely aggressively the first drive, New York’s offense saw looser coverage the rest of the way.
Plus, Joe Douglas isn’t exactly the type of general manager who would ever want the football world thinking that he’s tanking. While his eye for talent seems to be apparent at this point, his integrity-filled aura should also present problems for the Jets’ chances at Lawrence.
That and much more is discussed on the latest episode of Sabo Radio.
