This was the move that killed Jets fans’ souls over the last seven years
The Jets’ 23-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks was the nadir of a collapse of truly epic proportions.
Losing five in a row is a feat that not even the 2021 Jets of the 4-13 record and No. 4 slot in the draft managed to accomplish.
The Jets came out flat from the first scrimmage play, a 60-yard run by Seahawks rookie Ken Walker.
Mike White turned back into a pumpkin, ending the hype with a resounding statement of futility that didn’t look all that different from Zach Wilson‘s putrid performances.
However, there was one move made by Robert Saleh that spelled I quit like no other: punting on 4th-and-2 in the fourth quarter while down two touchdowns.
The specific scenario doesn’t even matter; those details tell you all you need to know.
Robert Saleh quite literally punted away the Jets’ season. He decided that it wasn’t worth fighting to the very end.
Here is the actual game situation.
—> NYJ (6) @ SEA (20) <—
NYJ has 4th & 2 at the NYJ 39Recommendation (STRONG): 👉 Go for it (+1.5 WP)
Actual play: 🏈🦵 B.Mann punts 47 yards to SEA 14, Center-T.Hennessy. D.Dallas to SEA 14 for no gain (A.Davis; J.Harde pic.twitter.com/iL6hX4Jug4— 4th down decision bot (@ben_bot_baldwin) January 1, 2023
Yes, there was no chance to win. Yes, the Jets’ offense put up a truly unimaginably awful performance that the chances of converting were slim to none.
But just punting? That move is reminiscent of Jets-Coaches-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, initials TB and AG.
This was the cherry on top of a game that will be etched into the Jets’ Wall of Shame along with the final game of 2015, the last few of 2008, and so many others in the franchise’s star-crossed history.
Saleh may have changed the culture of the team, but his actions spoke louder than words. That was the ultimate cowardly, quitting move.
This punt may not have been listed in the Surrender Index, but it was a waving of the white flag.
The Jets have now surrendered their season just as they surrendered this game.
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The decision is even more baffling when you consider that the defense wasn’t playing lights out either. At least he didn’t call a QB sneak …
Saleh seems like a good leader but I fail to see anything else he brings to the table from a schematic standpoint. If he doesn’t want to shake up this poor staff, I would let him go too. In two years, with significantly more talent, he has won 1 (he didnt coach one of our wins last year) more game than Adam Gase and has lost only 1 less thus far. Now I feel Saleh is a much better HC than Gase was, but I just dont see how he can elevate this team anymore without significantly better coordinators. I want a proven HC. I would give him one more year but only with big changes to staff, otherwise thanks for trying.
I can’t believe more people aren’t on this decision. I made a video last night and I literally screamed about it.
Yes, I saw that video. You expressed the anger of Jets fans everywhere.
Has a rookie head coach ever worked out for the Jets? I can’t think of one.
Ever heard of Rex Ryan or Walt Michaels?
I liked Rex more than any other coach since Parcells, but he was run out of here with a losing record after five seasons. To be fair, the only Jets coaches with winning records were Parcells and Groh, so Rex wasn’t unique in that respect.
I guess I’m just tired of hoping new rookie coaches will break the mold.
Rivka, you and Zach Rosenblatt are the two best reporters on the Jets beat. Honest, straightforward reporting that pulls no punches.
I appreciate it! (I’m not really in the same category as Zack, because he gets firsthand information on the Jets while I just report what he and others have shared.)
classic saleh
Actually, what was surprising was that it wasn’t classic Saleh. He has gone for it near midfield on 4th and short plenty of times this season, and every time with the Jets down this much. He went for it on 4th and short from his own 43 in the first half against Minnesota. That made it even more of a cowardly move, in my opinion.