The New York Jets’ huge comet still deserves harsh censure despite the Giants’ win

The New York Jets may have won the game, but this guy deserves a lot of criticism nonetheless

The New York Jets somehow beat their crosstown rivals, but the result has to feel like a loss in every way.

Yes, winning is winning. Yes, the Jets often lose ugly games and then regret the consequences while also adding to the L. Yes, the Jets had no offensive line to speak of. Yes, Zach Wilson kept the ball too long and played very poorly.

This still can’t obscure the fact that the Jets almost lost the game for one main reason: Complete and complete lack of discipline.

When a team lacks discipline, the blame always falls squarely on the head coach.

Robert Saleh has received a lot of praise recently, especially after the Jets upset the Eagles. It’s worth it: beating an unbeaten team without two of the best corner kicks in football is an extraordinary achievement.

However, as good as that win was, this loss was almost as bad, maybe worse, if you look at it from a coach’s perspective.

The planes were called five Incorrect personal penalties in the game. five! If it weren’t for those flags, the Giants wouldn’t have scored their only goal. The Giants’ offense couldn’t do anything with Tommy DeVito out there, but the Jets allowed them to cruise to a touchdown, fueled by multiple slamming penalties.

It’s not a new problem

This issue dates back to the 2022 preseason, when Quincy Williams hit Jalen Hurts out of bounds for a period Penalty for unnecessary roughness. Did Saleh do something with Williams? Do you talk to him on the sideline, sit with him for a few snaps, or give him any kind of example? No, the full-back has gone straight back into the defensive formation.

Throughout the 2022 season, the Jets were called for terrible penalty after terrible penalty that cost them (or nearly cost them) games. Carl Lawson hit the roughing penalty against Pittsburgh to extend the first half, two steps to John Franklin Myers Peace be upon you, Mac Jones (Yes, that was science), and it cannot be explained by C.J. Mosley Sneak jump Fourth down against the Bills are just some examples. Each time, Saleh said it was unforgivable, but it kept happening.

This year, we saw more of the same. Sauce Gardner and Franklin-Myers both fell victim to terrible penalty calls against them, but there were several ridiculous plays made by the Jets. Here are some examples from before this game.

• Jermaine Johnson was called an unnecessary rough call for some brawling after the referee’s whistle in a Chiefs game.
• Quinnen Williams has several egregious penalties, including a completely unnecessary penalty against Jalen Hurts.
• Quincy Williams had an unnecessary bad roughing call against Denver.
• Allen Lazard Crack block The order against Philadelphia may not seem like a big deal, but it was a clear flag under the letter of the law and should not have happened to a veteran receiver. All he had to do was get in the way, which is where the legal choice comes into play.

Giants game

Penalties taken by the Jets against the Giants ought to It led to defeat. Here was the worst.

7-3 New York, 0:32 1st quarter, New York 24, 2nd and 11

In baseball, a big part of winning is keeping the other team off the scoreboard in the half-inning after your team has scored runs. In a sense, this is what “completes” the score.

In almost the same way, in football, it is very important to keep the opponent’s attack off the scoreboard after the team’s attack has scored. After a pass to Darius Slayton for a one-yard loss and a Saquon Barkley run for six yards, the Giants should have been set up on third-and-5 from their own 30. They were dominating the line of scrimmage at that point in the game, making it a favorable situation for their defense.

Instead, Quincy Williams’ needlessly rough call from 15 yards out gave the Giants first-and-10 from their own 45. It was a blow after the whistle, clearly visible even on television, and a sign of a complete lack of discipline.

The Giants did not score on the drive, as Graham Gano missed a 47-yard field goal. However, the Giants were not supposed to be able to get into this position. It all started with stupid science.

7-3 New York, 4:20 S2, New York 41, iii-iv

Zach Wilson was sacked on this play for a loss of six yards. The Jets were ready for a 35-point shot. Thomas Morstead has been doing an excellent job of pinning the Giants deep into their own territory, and he could have had another opportunity to do so.

The problem: Mekhi Becton pushed Kayvon Thibodeaux, drawing an unnecessary 15-yard rough flag. That pushed the penalty to 20. Kicking for distance is not Morstead’s strong point, and his kick only sailed 40 yards. The Giants were known for their unnecessary roughness on the punt, returning it 15 yards. This could still be a very expensive play.

7-3 New York, 13:14 S3, New York 35, 2nd 10

The Giants exited the first half with Tommy DeVito under center after Tyrod Taylor’s rib injury kept him out of the game. They were clearly planning to run the football, as they did on the first three plays of the drive, gaining 34 yards on one Saquon Barkley run.

However, the Giants played second-and-10 from the Jets’ own 35 as the defense looked to contain the damage on the field goal. Tommy DeVito threw a short foul, but Quincy Williams came up with a helmet-to-helmet hit, resulting in another 15-yard penalty.

This was not the last bad driving penalty.

7-3 New York, 10:06 3rd quarter, New York 10, third and goal

DeVito ran up the middle for no gain, which would have limited the Giants to a field goal. However, Jermaine Johnson foolishly came up with a hard hit on a pile that was already stuffed. He was called for unnecessary roughness, giving the Giants a first down. It may have been a soft penalty call, but it was still a poor decision by Johnson.

The Giants immediately capitalized with a touchdown on that drive.

10-7 New York, 7:21 4th quarter, New York 8, 4th and 5

The Giants were preparing to kick out of their own end zone as the game clock ticked down. Despite punter Jimmy Gillan’s big leg, the Jets had the opportunity to take over with excellent field position. Michael Clemons jumped before the snap, giving the Giants a first down and allowing them to run the clock. In fact, they used 4½ extra minutes before giving the Jets the ball in the 25th minute.

It’s easy to say that’s not the coach’s job, but it should be. Situationally, as much as blocking a kick is a worthwhile endeavor, the priority should be not jumping. Clemons should have known the consequences of jumping.

Players coach – to the max

At some point, the question of whether it is valid too much From the players coach arises. Aside from his notorious spread of the offensive line in Hard Knocks, there is little evidence that he holds his players accountable for their destructive decisions.

It’s one thing for a coach to defend his players to the max in front of the media. In many ways, that’s what a head coach does He should Do it, even if it seems silly (see: valid Dalvin Cook comments).

It’s a whole different ball game to please the players. Their mistakes Theme. Perhaps sitting on the bench won’t work in today’s NFL environment or may simply be counterproductive, but Saleh needs to do a better job of disciplining his team.

A team ravaged by injuries cannot overcome itself. That’s pretty much what the Jets did against the Giants. Wilson’s criticism aside, blame for this near-disaster falls first and foremost on the head coach.