Jets Crash & Burn

During yesterday’s home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Jets wore the throwback navy and gold uniforms of the their previous incarnation, the New York Titans. In the fourth quarter, however, they still shrunk like the regular old Jets teams, withering under the pressure like little flowers in the desert sun.

But Sunday’s performance was especially difficult to swallow because Gang Green had the ball on second down at the Eagles’ 4-yard line with just 3:30 to go, and needed just one yard for a first down or four yards to tie the game. But running back Thomas Jones—who actually had a great game, rushing for 130 yards on 24 carries—was stuffed on second down, Chad Pennington’s quarterback sneak was stonewalled on third down, and a fourth-and-1 pass from Pennington to Laveranues Coles was tipped away by Sheldon Brown in the end zone, as [the Jets lost 16-9].

The loss [dropped New York’s record ]to a putrid 1-5 and basically the team has already been eliminated from playoff competition only six weeks into the season. In fourth quarters, they now have been outscored 52-27, further proving they have the spine of a jellyfish in crunch time. “Right now I'm just numb,” Pennington said, after the game. At least he’s doing better than most Jets fans: Right now, they feel like puking.