The New York Jets’ Season Summarized in One Play
The New York Jets’ 2015 campaign was a success, finishing with a 10-6 record and remaining in the playoff hunt until the final day of the season. It also was a season of near misses, and hear is an example of the season, wrapped up into one play.
The New York Jets are coming off of a season that exceeded everyone’s expectations. Even with all of the additions, nobody expected them to finish 10-6. A six game improvement is a great start to the Todd Bowles era, and even better is the fact that they have found a quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick that can effectively bridge the gap until either Bryce Petty, or someone else, is ready to play. The defense was strong, and the offense was explosive. There was a lot to be happy about.
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But, the season ended in disappointment, leaving fans wondering what might have been. They came within one with of the playoffs, getting close but just missing out thanks to Rex Ryan. There were dropped passes that changed games, games the Jets should have won, plays that should have been made, …etc. The 2015 season, although improved, could be characterized by a great many near-misses.
Here we are going to take a look one play that summarized the season. It took place in the final quarter of week 17 against the Buffalo Bills. The Jets were trying to furiously mount a drive to save the game, and their trip to the playoffs. The irony of it all is that it almost worked. Let’s take a look.
All photos courtesy of NFL Gamepass
It’s the second to last play of the game, and the Jets are down 22-17. There is less than one minute to go, and the Jets are deep in their end, facing second and one. Ryan Fitzpatrick is in the gun, with Chris Ivory to his left side. In the black circle is the receiver that is targeted, Kenbrell Thompkins. The defender in the red circle is Mario Butler. On the play, Thompkins is going to run a “9 route”, or a “go route” straight up the sidelines.
Butler is going to get turned the wrong way, leaving Thompkins wide open. Let’s move ahead.
All Rex Ryan wants his guy to do is not give up a big play. So far down the field, Mario Butler is playing it correctly. Take a look at the cushion he is giving Thompkins. At this point, if Fitzpatrick were to throw his way, it would be a modest gain, with Butler able to potentially stop him in the field of play, and precious time running out.
But take the play a little bit farther down the field, and Butler makes a critical mistake that nearly gave the Jets a trip to the playoffs.
Take a look in the red circle at Mario Butler now. He has his eyes back at the quarterback, and his back is turned to Kenbrell Thompkins. That gives the freedom, which both he and Fitzpatrick see, to head straight up the sideline, wide open behind Butler.
Ryan Fitzpatrick makes about as good of a throw as possible. Butler has made the adjustment is closing, but it looks as if Thompkins is going to make the catch before he gets there. Look at the angle that Butler is coming in at. If Thompkins makes the catch, it is not unreasonable to believe that he will be able to get past Butler, and with nobody behind him, Thompkins has a clear path to the score, and the improbable win.
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Can the Jets do the unthinkable?
Jets’ fans know that the answer was no. Butler somehow arrives just after the ball arrives, and either by making contact with the ball or not, is able to separate Thompkins from the ball, and the pass falls incomplete. Fitzpatrick’s third interception came on the ensuing play, and just like that, the Jets’ season was over.
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The 2015 Jets stayed close, in the playoff race, all season long. They were almost there, but just missed. On the second to last play of the season, the Jets were close, had a chance to win it, but just couldn’t finish it.
It was a microcosm of the whole year, in one desperate comeback attempt.