New York Jets Offense Inept in Monday Night Loss to Baltimore Ravens

Outside of one penalty-infested drive that gave the Ravens seven easy points, the New York Jets defense did everything it could have possibly done Monday night. Unfortunately, their offense refused to match their efforts.

Well, at least their passing offense.

Mark Sanchez was putrid as he went 10-21 for 74 yards and led the Jets offense to only six first downs, which tied a franchise low. He wasn’t putrid by himself, however, as his receivers dropped balls, couldn’t get open, and — in the case of Dustin Keller — made one of the worst plays I’ve ever seen.

A strip-sack by Shaun Ellis gave the Jets the ball inside the Ravens’ five-yard line. But they were only able to come up with a field goal. They had another trip into the red zone but, again, only came up with a field goal. Nick Folk would then hit a 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Shonn Greene, the guy the Jets dumped Thomas Jones for, looked uninterested. He had five carries for 18 yards, two fumbles and one lost. He then got in the game in the fourth quarter after seeing almost no time since his second fumble, and immediately dropped a perfectly-placed ball.

The only bright spot for the Jets offense was LaDainian Tomlinson. The washed up running back had only 11 carries, but came away with 62 yards and appeared to have the burst back he seemed to lack last season in San Diego. He also pitched in with two receptions for 16 yards.

But even with the awful stats, the Jets defense gave their offense an opportunity to win the game with just under two minutes left and a one-point deficit. Down 10-9 with 1:47 and a timeout left, the Jets should have had no problem marching down the field and getting into field goal range from their own 18.

Missed pass after missed pass had the Jets down to 4th and 10. The offensive line was allowing pressure on a three-man rush during the drive, but Sanchez had enough time on this play. He took a step back, and fired the ball to a wide open Dustin Keller near the sideline.

All Keller had to do was turn up the field and run out of bounds passed the marker. But instead, he simply ran right out of bounds — in front of the marker. The Jets came up one yard short, the Ravens got the ball, and the game was over.

Millions of jaws hit the floor or the roof at the same time. It was the biggest bonehead move I’ve seen in quite some time and should show up for the next 50 years on NFL Films’ follies compilations. It was so bad I wouldn’t be surprised if Rex Ryan tossed him, along with Greene, on the bench for a week.

Keller is still young, but it’s his third year in the league and he should definitely know better than that.

A lot of credit has to be given to the Ravens’ defense as they were flying around and knocking the snot out of the Jets all night long, but even with that considered there was no excuse for the pathetic display Brian Schottenheimer’s offense put on Monday night in front of the entire country.

If this Jets offense can’t pick it up right away, they’re going to watch as they keep dropping close games and falling further and further down in the AFC East.