The lows keep getting lower for Geno Smith and the Jets, as the team scored a season-low three points in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
While Smith certainly didn’t play well, he wasn’t helped much by an awful offensive line or receivers who couldn’t hold onto the ball.
For a third straight game, Smith failed to complete 10 passes and threw for just a little over 100 yards.
Once the Ravens took a 12-3 lead and made it a two possession game, it felt like there was no hope Smith would be able to rally the troops and come from behind.
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The offensive line did an incredibly poor job in protecting Smith from Baltimore’s pass rush. He was chased by Ravens defenders all game long, and actually did his best work all season in moving around and getting rid of the ball. Baltimore was able to stack the line and rush Smith, knowing they couldn’t be stopped and that he wouldn’t make them pay for it.
Smith was sacked three times.
Much like in the Week Two loss to the New England Patriots, Gang Green’s wide receivers dropped far too many catchable passes. With the offense struggling as much as it has, the last thing this team needs is to be giving away opportunities to pick up first downs and move the chains.
Stephen Hill continues to seem invisible, being targeted just once. Hill hasn’t caught a pass in his last three games and is a starter in name only at this point.
As usual, the defensive backfield gave up multiple big plays. Antonio Cromartie had the Jets' only interception of the day, but couldn’t keep up with Torrey Smith on a 60-yard pass.
Cromartie aggravated an old hip injury and was forced to leave the game early.
Former Ravens safety Ed Reed looked foolish helping out in coverage, allowing a 66-yard touchdown to Jacoby Jones. Reed made a nice hit early in the game, preventing a potential touchdown, but he’s clearly lost a step or two. While Reed will definitely be elected into the Hall of Fame once his career is over, he’s now an added liability in a secondary that already has too many liabilities.
Quarterback Joe Flacco has struggled with interceptions, yet the Jets dropped two likely picks thrown right into their arms.
Twelve weeks into the season, it seems like there are now more question marks now than answers.
Coach Rex Ryan wouldn’t commit to Smith as the starter for next week’s game against the Miami Dolphins, but backup Matt Simms is a rookie as well. David Garrard is the only veteran quarterback on the roster, though it would be a shock if he were to be given the job.
With the loss, the Jets finally broke their season-long pattern of alternating wins and losses. They are now one of six teams in the AFC tied for the final playoff spot with a 5-6 record. Getting to the postseason is going to be a lot tougher though, as they would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker to three other teams with the same record.
