The 2020 New York Jets have dropped their 10th game of the season courtesy of a horrendous loss to the Los Angeles Chargers out west.
- New York Jets 28 (0-10)
- Los Angeles Chargers 34 (3-7)
- NFL, Week 11, Final, Box Score
- SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
When the team’s quarterback takes every snap and has just three completions at halftime, things aren’t going so swimmingly. By halftime, New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco could muster just 30 yards on 3 of 8 passing and a touchdown for the home team.
The Jets weren’t the home team.
Flacco’s pick-6 in the first quarter served as the early turning point in the Los Angeles Chargers’ 34-28 victory over the Jets on Sunday. A lazy throw to the flat was snagged by former Jet cornerback Tevaughn Campbell and taken the distance (a grand total of six yards).
thank youuuu 😁
📺: CBS | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/uAVEVVwI41
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 22, 2020
Just like that, a good start by a bad team vanished.
New York came out hungry in this one. After stopping the Bolts on their first series of the game, Brant Boyer‘s special teams unit came up big. Henry Anderson snuck through to block a punt that was ultimately recovered by Quinnen Williams.
BLOCKED!!!
📺 #NYJvsLAC on CBS pic.twitter.com/owrXJJE9SC
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 22, 2020
After a few efficient Frank Gore runs, La’Mical Perine entered the contest to tally his second touchdown of the season.
.@LP_deucedeuce running behind @BigTicket73 😍😍😍
📺 #NYJvsLAC on CBS pic.twitter.com/SwdsCsC46b
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 22, 2020
The next drive saw the Chargers take it all the way down to the Jets’ 1-yard line where Keenan Allen turned it over via fumble. That set the stage for the Flacco pick-6.
The rest of the first half was all Justin Herbert. The first-round Oregon product killed Gregg Williams’s defense all afternoon. His arm strength was impressive, as was his accuracy. Even his pre-snap adjustments made sense.
A 39-yard touchdown to Mike Williams put the Bolts up 14-6. Marcus Maye wound up tackling Arthur Maulet on the play as he tried to cut down Williams from his high-safety spot.
whole lotta 🤟@darealmike_dub | 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/AH0KgjEGVF
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 22, 2020
On the next Chargers’ drive, Herbert capped a 72-yard drive with a 2-yard Hunter Henry touchdown.
spreadin' the love 🤝@Hunter_Henry84 | 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/S1Pijc96GZ
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 22, 2020
Naturally, the kid wasn’t done just yet. He fit one into Allen in the red zone for his third passing score of the afternoon.
thread the needle ‼️@Keenan13Allen | 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/RAT2Pml25c
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 22, 2020
Herbert finished with 366 yards and three touchdowns to no interceptions on a filthy 37 of 49 passing. Allen finished with a game-high 16 receptions and 145 yards to go along with his lone touchdown. Mike Williams wasn’t too far behind with 72 yards on four grabs.
Flacco and the Jets made things interesting in the second half. A 49-yard touchdown to Breshad Perriman made the score 24-13.
.@B_Perriman11 keeps ballin'.
📺 #NYJvsLAC on CBS pic.twitter.com/8sdC69Weau
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 22, 2020
After Herbert responded with the Allen touchdown, the Jets drove 75 yards on 10 plays before Frank Gore capped it with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Young Denzel Mims was targeted just once in the first half, but that changed after halftime once Adam Gase and the offense started to attack the one-on-one coverages. He came down with a beautiful 27-yard grab near the sideline.
.@Zel5Zelly 😲😲😲
📺 #NYJvsLAC on CBS pic.twitter.com/fDLlW7Ex1W
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 22, 2020
Mims added more to his stat line in the fourth quarter and eventually finished with 71 yards on three grabs—mainly when facing one-on-one coverage.
Down two possessions in the last frame, Flacco didn’t quit. A drive that continued the theme of attacking downfield resulted in a Chris Herndon touchdown.
Back to one-possession game thanks to @Chris_Authentic 🙌#NYJvsLAC | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/dGEVBh3xbv
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 22, 2020
The Jets had one final shot to tie things up. Down eight with just 1:51 to go in regulation, Flacco took a deep shot to Mims on fourth-and-eight but it fell incomplete in the end zone.
Flacco finished with 205 yards and two touchdowns to one interception on 15 of 30 passing. Overcoming that brutal first half was too much to ask.
Gore went for 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground on 15 carries, while Perine collected 33 yards on eight attempts. Although he scored the first touchdown of the game, Perine exited the contest early in the second half due to an ankle injury. He never returned after being listed as doubtful.
The other big injury from this one came on the right side of the offensive line. First-year Jet George Fant was shaken up in the first half. He was listed as questionable to return with an ankle injury but never returned.
The Bolts’ rushing attack wasn’t brilliant either. Former Jet Kalen Ballage carried the ball 16 times for 44 yards.
Defensively, the Jets picked up three sacks. Maulet snagged one, while Quinnen Williams, Henry Anderson, Jordan Jenkins and Nathan Shepherd each finished with 0.5.
Sam Ficken, who returned to the lineup after missing multiple games with a groin injury, missed two extra points.
The now-0-10 New York Jets will continue their search for that elusive first victory when they welcome in the Miami Dolphins next Sunday.
If Joe Flacco starts for the rest of the year we are screwed for the #1 pick….