Sam Darnold and the New York Jets were steamrolled by former friend Jamal Adams and the explosive Seattle Seahawks.
- New York Jets 3 (0-13)
- Seattle Seahawks 40 (9-4)
- NFL, Week 14, Final, Box Score
- Lumen Stadium, Seattle, WA
Nobody thought this one would be pretty, and it turned out that everybody was right in that assessment. Despite a terrible-looking Seattle Seahawks defensive unit—which will bite them down the stretch of the season—the winless New York Jets were steamrolled in the Jamal Adams game.
In familiar fashion, Sam Darnold and the offense marched down the field on the opening possession. A 9-play, 48-yard drive resulted in the game’s first points—a 45-yard Sergio Castillo field goal.
For the Jets, Castillo, Darnold and everybody else wearing green and white, it was all downhill from there. Adams broke the single-season safety sack record, Russell Wilson threw for 206 and four touchdowns, and the Seahawks steamrolled the Jets by a final of 40-3.
Seattle took its first possession and marched 75 yards on six plays (with ease). A Wilson 19-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Swain gave Seattle its first lead and one it would not relent all afternoon.
.@Freddie_iball2 was wide open! 🙌
Touchdown, #Seahawks!!
📺: #NYJvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/Nv0aEUd9PG
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 13, 2020
After a quick three-and-out, the momentum changed a bit, courtesy of a spectacular Marcus Maye interception.
Holy ball skills @alldayMAYE 😲
📺 #NYJvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/dgOdnzD7Sf
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 13, 2020
Playing a deep-half in what looked to be a Cover 2, Maye turned it up alongside DK Metcalf, only to turn his head at the perfect moment for the incredible pick. His second interception of the season nearly matched his first (the backside pick).
The Jets’ next drive wasn’t a three-and-out, but it wasn’t Joe Montana in Super Bowl 23, either. After one first down, the Jets were forced to punt on their fourth play.
Wilson cashed in on the following possession in the form of a Metcalf red zone job against rookie Bryce Hall.
A work of art between @DangeRussWilson and @dkm14 🎨#GoHawks x #ProBowlVote
📺: #NYJvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/H7RzL96ZpZ
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 13, 2020
It didn’t get any better. Frank Gore fumbled on the first play of the next drive, ultimately setting up former Jet Jason Myers for a 41-yard field goal.
Surprisingly, the score could have been much closer had Castillo connected on his tries. The kicker who looked impressive earlier in the season completely fell apart in the Great Northwest. He missed three first-half field goals, two of which came prior to Seattle’s third touchdown.
Instead of a 17-9 deficit, New York found itself down 17-3 and on the defensive when Chris Carson scampered for a 5-yard score with just 32 seconds to go in the half.
.@ccarson_32 leaps his way into the end zone for six! 🔥
Q2: SEA 23, NYJ 3
📺: #NYJvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/jdtSEzoLRV
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 13, 2020
A Will Dissly score early in the third quarter put a stamp on things.
.@DangeRussWilson ➡️ @Will_Diss for another #Seahawks TD!
Q3: SEA 30, NYJ 3
📺: #NYJvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/ho0OVqhufM
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 13, 2020
Wilson’s fourth touchdown pass of the game went to David Moore.
Keep the touchdowns coming! @DangeRussWilson targets @DMoeSwagg23 for six 🎯
📺: #NYJvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/Vwy9jOeoTL
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 13, 2020
Adams finished his revenge game with a sack, a tackle for loss, a pass defended and five total tackles. Early on, he dropped what would have been his first interception of the season.
Jamal Adams was handed a free interception vs. his former team… and he dropped it. He'll be thinking about that one.pic.twitter.com/JHsfIx3iEj
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 13, 2020
It simply didn’t matter. Darnold and the offense couldn’t take advantage of the league’s 31st defense. No. 14 finished with just 132 yards and no touchdowns on 14 of 26 passing.
Braxton Berrios led the way through the air with just 49 yards on three receptions, while Breshad Perriman finished with three grabs for 26 yards.
On the ground, nothing much happened. Gore could muster just 23 yards on eight carries. Ty Johnson, the man who went over 100 a week ago, finished with just 16 yards on eight attempts.
Carson led all rushers with 76 yards and a score on 12 carries. Metcalf caught six balls for 61 yards.
A Jets’ sequence near the end of the first half easily highlights the season. After a big completion to Berrios, the Jets were set up at the Seattle 29-yard line with 10 seconds remaining in the first half. Instead of looking for a chunk down the middle of the field, Adam Gase’s offense couldn’t get the play off, and they were forced to burn their final timeout.
It’s as inexcusable as anything that could possibly happen in the NFL.
Ten seconds to go in the half after Berrios gets out of bounds after a huge play. One timeout remaining at SEA 29. What happens? The Jets offense can't get the play off, and they burn their last timeout.
That's as inexcusable as it gets.. #TakeFlight
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) December 13, 2020
Other notes:
Wide receiver Jaleel Scott received the surprise start in Denzel Mims‘s absence. He caught one for 16 yards early, which prompted receivers coach Shawn Jefferson to explode on the sideline.
Shawn Jefferson's reaction to @J__Scott16's first catch of the season is so good.
📺 #NYJvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/GylXjbMtB1
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 13, 2020
Corey Ballentine showed something on a second-quarter kick return. If not for a late stumble, he could have taken it to the house.
Big-time return from @cbxiii__ 💨
📺 #NYJvsSEA on CBS pic.twitter.com/6X9vPmEpRz
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 13, 2020
Former Jet Geno Smith entered the game in the third quarter. Although he completed 4 of 5 passes for 33 yards, the Seahawks were much more interested in getting out of the game healthy.
The now-0-13 Jets will prepare for another west coast trip, this time in Los Angeles against the 9-4 Rams.
