New York Jets: Victims of Poor Execution vs. Buffalo Bills

There has been a lot of talk over the last few days following Thursday Night Football. For anyone who has forgotten or blocked it out, the New York Jets lost to the Bills by the score of 22-17.  The Bills dominated early, and the Jets’ comeback came up just a bit short, dropping their record to 5-4.

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Specifically, there has been a lot of talk about the play calling of Chan Gailey.  Admittedly, there were some curious calls, with some curious pass routes run.  Going for it on fourth down in two separate situations could have been field goal attempts.

That’s why they get the big money and we watch.

Here, we are going to look at the critical drive, the final serious threat where the Jets had the chance to win the game.  Following the botched punt in the fourth quarter, the Jets were set up first and 10 at the Bills’ 13.

Personally, I would have run a different set of plays, trying a shot at the end zone on first down, and then pounding the ball three straight times.  But, take a look at the plays that were won.  They seemed questionable during the game, but after watching them, it is evident that execution, not play calling, did the New York Jets in.

Photos Courtesy of NFL Game Pass

First and Ten, Bills’ 13

The drive starts with excellent execution. After Eric Decker has motioned into his place in the slot, the Jets are set up with the strong side to the right. Fitz gives the ball to Chris Ivory, and Ivory has a lot of help. The line blocks down, Tommy Bohanon makes an excellent block at the point of attack, and Eric Decker is blocking down field. This gives Ivory the opportunity to bounce the run to the edge and pick up eight yards.

The Jets are in position to take the lead. They have the ball second down and two at the five yard line.

Exactly where you want the Jets to be, right?

Second and two, Bills’ five

Here comes the first of three plays where the Jets don’t execute. This is another run to Ivory, this time around the left side. Eric Decker’s job is to take his man, Stephon Gilmore(off-screen), with him, selling a pass route. That will open up the outside for Ivory to pick up a first down at a minimum. Instead, Decker runs a half-hearted route, Gilmore stays at home, forcing Ivory to the inside, and into the waiting arms of Manny Lawson (below).

Third and three, Bills’ six

Here is one of the questioned plays of the game, and at full speed, it looked like a horrible play call. After looking at the film, it should have worked. Here, the Jets have set up a quick screen to Eric Decker.  At the snap, Decker peels off to the right, catches the pass from Fitzpatrick, and should be able to walk to the corner of the end zone.

The key is Jeff Cumberland (circled). His job is to create a seal, or a pick, at the line of scrimmage, taking his man out of the play and giving Decker room to make his move with the football. With that, Decker would be able to walk into the corner of the end zone.  However, Cumberland doesn’t make a good block, barely creating any type of seal at all.

See there? Cumberland let his guy go, and before the ball has even arrived, Decker is about to get nailed. Every Jets’ fan remembers the result.

Eric Decker is smothered, the Jets lose another yard. Here comes the big fourth down that has been talked about since the game ended.

Fourth and four, Bills’ seven

There are only about three minutes left in the game, so going for it is really the only way. Even with all of their timeouts, there is no guarantee that the Jets are going to get the ball back, as they had difficulty with LeSean McCoy all night.

Kellen Davis and Eric Decker are in the two circles. Several times, Todd Bowles indicated that there was confusion with the routes on this play, and watching the film confirms that in spades. It appears that Decker should be the receiver targeted, because he makes a move to the inside, and makes a distinct pivot to the corner of the endzone. That would mean that Kellen Davis is supposed to create a pick, and confusion at the point the two receivers cross.

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The deciding play of the game, and we have two guys running a route to the same spot! That’s the execution. There is no way that Kellen Davis and Eric Decker were designed to both run to the corner. Odds are that Decker was right. Again, we all know what happened. Incomplete, the Jets lose.

Were the plays that the Jets called questionable? Yes. But the Jets still could have won the game, had they executed well.