The only good news for the Jets out of Sunday’s loss to the Rams is they are now one day closer to the end of this miserable season.
The Rams scored 13 unanswered second-half points to beat the Jets 19-9 at a frosty MetLife Stadium.
The loss drops the Jets to 4-11 with two games left as they play out the string. The Rams are now 9-6 and in first place in the NFC West.
The Jets had three possessions of 14 plays or more but only came away with nine points as they failed to reach the end zone after their first possession, which ended with a Davante Adams touchdown but a missed extra point. The Jets did not have one punt in the game and still only scored nine points.
While they held the ball for long stretches without scoring, the Rams had three possessions of six plays or fewer that resulted in 16 points.
Aaron Rodgers threw for a good number of yards (256) but had a fourth-down incompletion in the end zone and a costly fumble.
On a third-and-7 with 11:43 left in the game, Rodgers held the ball too long and was sacked by Kam Curl. He fumbled the ball and Jared Verse recovered it at the Jets’ 21. Three plays later, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hit tight end Tyler Higbee for an 11-yard touchdown and a 16-9 lead. Rams kicker Joshua Karty added a 45-yard field goal with 5:17 left to put the game away.
Anders Carlson missed a 49-yard field-goal attempt at the two-minute warning that would have at least given the Jets hope of a late comeback.
Things started off well for the Jets, as they opened up the game with their best drive of the season, going 99 yards on 14 plays. The Jets mixed up the plays and got a number of people involved. Rodgers threw his 499th career touchdown to end the drive, finding Adams in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard score.
The Jets looked like they might take the game over after safety Tony Adams intercepted a Stafford pass the Jets’ 24 early in the second quarter. It was the Jets’ third interception in the last two weeks after having only two in their first 13 games. The Jets failed to convert the takeaway into points, though. Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich made the curious decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Jets’ 33 and Breece Hall got stuffed, turning the ball over to the Rams.
The Rams then went 33 yards in three plays with Kyren Williams scoring a 2-yard touchdown with 6:22 left in the second quarter. Joshua Karty missed the extra point, keeping the score tied at 6-6.
The Jets mounted another long drive before halftime but could not get into the end zone. They held the ball for six minutes and made it all the way to the Rams’ 3 but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Carlson to take a 9-6 lead heading into the half.
After receiving the ball to start the second half, the Jets again held the ball for what must have felt like an eternity to the Rams in the freezing temperatures. The Jets had a nine-minute possession to start the second half, meaning they had the ball for basically a quarter when you add it to the six-minute possession that ended the first half.
But the Jets came away with no points after the 14-play drive. Ulbrich again opted to go for it on fourth down. This time it was a fourth-and-4 at the Rams 13. Rodgers tried to hit Davante Adams in the end zone and Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon knocked it away.
The Rams drove down the field and kicked a 38-yard field goal to tie the game at 9-9 with 12:44 left.
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