Jets loss to Patriots confirms undeniable Justin Fields truth they can’t ignore

It's time for a change.

Justin Fried

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields / Logan Bowles/GettyImages

The New York Jets walked into Thursday night clinging to the sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, Justin Fields could stabilize long enough to keep the offense afloat.

Instead, their 27-14 loss to the New England Patriots delivered the clearest confirmation yet that this experiment has run its course. Fields wasn’t necessarily unplayable like he was against Cleveland, but when “not unplayable” becomes the compliment, you already know what the truth is.

And that truth is unavoidable now. The Jets simply cannot function with him at quarterback. The team's passing game once again failed to exist in really any capacity, as offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand was handcuffed by the man under center.

Fields finished 15-of-26 for 116 yards and a touchdown, adding 67 yards and a rushing score. He had a couple of solid throws and suffered from multiple drops by Adonai Mitchell, but a fumbled snap in the fourth quarter proved to be the death knell.

The Jets need to bench Justin Fields for Tyrod Taylor

Even on his better days, the offense remains suffocated. Fields still hesitates, still passes up open reads, still checks down when he needs to push the ball, and still holds it when he needs to get rid of it.

The numbers tell the same story. Entering Week 11, Fields had thrown for fewer than 60 yards in four of his eight starts, ranked 30th in adjusted EPA/play, and had just 501 first-half passing yards all season, ranking 32nd in the NFL.

Against the Patriots, the Jets managed under 100 yards of offense in the first half for the sixth time this year — no other team has more than three. Engstrand dialed up one of his most impressive scripts of the season, creating windows and designing runs to keep the offense competitive.

It still didn’t matter. The ceiling is low, and the floor is a trap door.

Tyrod Taylor isn’t a savior, but at this point, the Jets don’t need a savior — they need functionality. After nine starts and too many rock bottoms to count, it’s time for the Jets to make the change that’s been staring them in the face for weeks.

The Justin Fields experiment should be over. Even if Thursday night wasn’t his lowest point, the bar is already buried, and that’s the problem.

The Jets don’t have a functioning quarterback running their offense right now. In reality, the change they need is already weeks overdue.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.