NY Jets: Top 5 reasons the season is over

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Manny Lawson (91) celebrates his interception as Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan looks on during the second half against the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 22-17. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

The season of the NY Jets came to a crashing halt in Buffalo and now it’s time to assess the top 5 reasons their magical run is over.

If I told you before the season started that the Jets would finish 10-6 and end up in second place in the AFC East, most fans would take that. Actually, who am I kidding, all Jets fans would take that. But the underlying context is that the Jets had their playoff destiny in their hands and they let it slip through their proverbial fingers.

Most fans are still in shock, myself included, on the season being over. But before we turn the page and start assessing the upcoming 2016 off-season filled with draft talk, cap casualties and roster maneuvering, let’s attempt to explain why the season is over.

Without a doubt, there are five reasons why the Jets season is over and some of it is hard to explain, but here we go.

Next: 5. An Offensive Philosophy Change

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets running back Chris Ivory (33) breaks a tackle by Buffalo Bills strong safety Bacarri Rambo (30) during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 22-17. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

5. An Offensive Philosophy Change

At the beginning of the season, the Jets established a ground and pound identity led by Chris Ivory who battered oncoming defenders at will, while Ryan Fitzpatrick played complementary football. Through the first four games, Ivory amassed 460 yards on the ground and appeared to be one of the best running backs in all of football. But then something strange happened, Ivory got injured and the Jets appeared to make a conscious offensive philosophy change.

The Jets went away from the running game that got them to a 4-1 start and started leaning on their veteran passer Fitzpatrick. The Jets then went on a 1-4 slump ending in Houston where they got beat by a guy named T.J. Yates. Bowles gave his boys a pep talk and they went on a five-game winning streak. But Ivory had disappeared into the background with the emergence of Bilal Powell. Ivory appeared headed for another minimal role in the regular season finale until a 58-yard scamper sparked the Jets’ offense.

Finally, it appeared the fresh legs of Ivory would help balance the offensive attack of the Jets. But apparently Chan Gailey had other plans, deciding to lean on Stevan Ridley who had proved overall utterly ineffective during the course of the season. In the harsh winds of western New York, the passing game of the Jets was derailed and they couldn’t rely on their potent rushing attack. The disappearance/misuse of Ivory is a main reason why the Jets will be watching the playoffs from their cushy couches this January.

Next: 4. The Not So 'Special' Teams

4. The Not So ‘Special’ Teams

To put it lightly? The special teams unit of the Jets was atrocious in 2015. There is no other way around it. To make matters worse, this season they lost special teams ace Nick Folk to a season ending injury in pregame warm-ups early in the season. Which led to the free agent signing of Randy Bullock.

On Sunday we saw the ugly, the uglier and the ugliest form of this special teams unit. Bullock missed a 40-yard field goal in a game where points were hard to come by. While Ryan Quigley shanked a punt that directly led to a Buffalo touchdown drive, if you can even call it that.

The special teams coverage was spotty as it had been all season and they were unable to flip field position with a big return. A huge off-season priority has to be upgrading this porous unit, there is a reason that special teams is a third of the game. The Jets need to invest in a good returner, hope Folk can recover from injury and bring in some depth in the coverage unit.

Next: 3. Money Not So Well Spent

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) runs the ball after a catch while being defended by New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 22 to 17. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

3. Money Not So Well Spent

One of the more exciting moves the Jets brass made in the off-season was the signing of perhaps the greatest player in franchise history, Darrelle Revis. You could say that Revis upon signing his massive contract had unrealistic expectations set by those numbers. But in all actuality for the most part, Revis lived up to those expectations and surpassed them. During the entirety of the 2015 season, Revis accounted for nine total takeaways by himself (five interceptions and four fumble recoveries).

But looking beyond the statistics there were times this season that “Revis Island” simply didn’t look the same. Whether it was the DeAndre Hopkins show in Houston where Revis was burned on multiple occasions or the Sammy Watkins show during their first match-up where he had a critical catch to ice the game, Revis isn’t the same player he once was. Or perhaps the second match-up this past Sunday where Watkins simply made Revis appear to be every bit the 30 year old that he is. Well, 11 receptions for 136 yards will certainly humble a man.

I don’t solely believe that it was Revis’ fault, but the coaching staff should’ve put him in a better position to succeed. Why not double team the Bills’ only healthy viable option in Watkins? It’s a bit troubling they didn’t make the second half coaching adjustment. The highly touted defensive line provided no consistent pressure all day, affording Tyrod Taylor plenty of time to convert 9-of-20 third down conversions and winning the time of possession battle, 39 minutes and change to 20 minutes.

Next: 2. Rookie Mistakes

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles (light sweatshirt) watches play from the sideline during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

2. Rookie Mistakes

The same thing that got the Jets to 10-6 is the reason why they’re 10-6. Let me explain. The Jets are very fortunate in many regards: they had the best off-season last year from a fantastic draft to a great free agency period, they have possibly the executive of the year in their new general manager Mike Maccagnan and at the very least, a candidate for coach of the year in Todd Bowles. But again, looking beyond the 10-6 and taking a closer look at the losse,s the coaching staff made several mistakes that cost this team.

Philadelphia. The Jets were 2-0 facing a team on the edge of implosion yet the Jets quickly fell to a 17 nothing deficit. The Jets inability to game-plan for running backs out of the backfield cost the Jets in more than just this game. Simply throwing a linebacker on Darren Sproles was more then an oversight, it was foolish and short sighted. The only back-to-back road games this season for the Jets (at New England and at Oakland, both losses) was a combination of a lack of focus and ill preparation.

What the Jets didn’t realize is that some of these key AFC losses would destroy their chances at the postseason and all that came to a head with their back-to-back losses to the Bills and the Texans. Bad offensive game-plans hurt the Jets trying to start games faster and on the defensive side of the ball, buying into Revis’ ego or being lazy was a major reason why they lost both games. Revis isn’t the same player of 2009 or 2010, he’s still a good corner, but expectations have to be tempered. In those games expectations weren’t and the coaching staff has to be blamed here.

Next: 1. Lack Of Consistent Play From Defense

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel (3) draws the defense offsides during the first half against the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

1. Lack Of Consistent Play From Defense

Ironically enough, the Jets’ defense is the reason they’re not playing in the 2016 postseason. Specifically, their inability to get the Bills off the field on third down. I mentioned it earlier, 9-for-20 on third down, the Jets were in the top-15 in sacks this season, but on Sunday struggled to get after Taylor. Most pundits, myself included, figured that a culture change had occurred with the head coaching change of Rex Ryan to Bowles. The Bills were 2-for-2 on 4th down conversions, one of those coming from a backup quarterback’s cadence count, you can’t make this stuff up.

Most Bills fans would say that EJ Manuel is an utter disappointment since being drafted out of the first round, so seeing him under center in a pseudo-wildcat formation during a critical juncture of the game had to be troubling to say the least. But on a fourth and three play, Manuel was successful in drawing Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams off-sides. Bowles’ level headedness kept this team’s pulse in check all season whether it be multiple game winning streaks or multiple game losing streaks. He has kept the same approach, one game at a time.

More jets: A season that just wasn't meant to be for the Jets

But on Sunday, they just didn’t have the composure of a playoff team, they simply made too many mistakes. From turnovers, to ill-timed penalties, the Jets crumbled under the pressure of a win-and-get-in scenario. So the mission for the Jets’ brass heading into the 2016 off-season is how can we improve this team. Issues that must be addressed for this team to take the next step: offensive line depth, adding more edge rushers to the mix, resolving the quarterback situation at least for the short term and making some key decisions with some high priced veterans.