Monday Morning Quarterback: Week 17 Jets vs. Bills

Dec. 30, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) throws a pass during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

It’s finally over gang. The 2012 season came to a close yesterday in Buffalo, losing to the Bills 28-9. The Jets “laid an egg”, as Yeremiah Bell put it after the game. It was bad, so let’s talk about it really quickly so we can put it behind us.

It was a game of missed opportunities early. The Jets actually moved the ball well between the 20s, early in this game. But, when they got deep in the scoring zone, they stalled. They could not convert their deep drives into the endzone for touchdowns, instead settling for field goals. Instead of being ahead 14-7, or 21-7, or even 13-7, the Jets were up 9-7. The Jets had a chance to really take a lead in this football game and they didn’t.

That set the Bills up for the play that was that changed the game. The Jets pretty much bottled up CJ Spiller in the running attack, limiting him to 59 yards on 24 carries. But, three plays after the Jets went up 9-7, Fitzpatrick set Spiller up with a short pass over the middle that Spiller took to the house. 66 yards later, the Bills were up 14-9, and never looked back. The real kick in the face was when the former Jet, Brad Smith, took a direct snap in the “Wildcat” formation and took it in from 4 yards out to expand the lead to 21-7. After the Jets had all of the drama behind the Wildcat, to have the former leader of the Jets Wildcat score was a fitting end to the season.

The other noticeable point was the fact that they didn’t give Mark a lot of opportunities to lose the game, but he still found a way to give up a pick 6. Early in the game, the ratio was nearly 10-1 in favor of the running game. They only had him throw the ball when necessary, so you could really tell the lack of confidence that they had in him. But, he still through a terrible pick 6. He nearly got Clyde Gates killed on a sideline throw when Sanchez put the pass on the wrong shoulder, causing Gates to be laid out by the defender. He is so inaccurate it is crazy.

So it ends. 6-10 is how a disappointing season finishes. Later today we will likely have some big news to discuss. We will definitely have it for you as we learn it.