ARIZONA CARDINALS

Opponent Aftermath: Jets reeling after blowout loss to Cardinals

Oct 18, 2016, 7:31 AM

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) watches the play after being hit against the Arizon...

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) watches the play after being hit against the Arizona Cardinalsduring the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The honeymoon is officially over.

After a 10-win season in his first year running the New York Jets, head coach Todd Bowles has now found himself in the ’embattled’ category. The Jets lost their fourth straight game, dropping a 28-3 decision to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football at University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Jets struggled to move the ball (230 total yards, 2-of-13 on 3rd downs) and to stop the run, allowing the Cardinals to rack up 171 yards on the ground.

Leading up to each Cardinals game, we give you a close-up look at how the opponent is preparing. Now, we present what’s being said in the Big Apple about Arizona’s beatdown of the Jets.

It’s Opponent Aftermath…

Ryan Fitzpatrick benched in Jets’ most devastating loss yet (NY Post)

Making matters worse, the Jets have a quarterback controversy brewing thanks to another ineffective game from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Jets coach Todd Bowles pulled Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter and inserted Geno Smith, setting up the possibility of a switch at the spot. But Bowles threw cold water on that after the game, saying he just wanted to get Smith some reps in the blowout.

“It was like a relief pitcher if the starting pitcher isn’t doing it this game, this day, you put in a relief pitcher. Fitz will be back next week,” Bowles said.

Jets report card: Two well-deserved Fs (NY Post)

Offense: F

The Jets did nothing offensively. They have gone six quarters without scoring a touchdown. They managed just 33 yards rushing and went 2 of 13 on third down. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (16 of 31, 174 yards, 1 INT) was ineffective and was replaced by Geno Smith (4 of 6, 31 yards, 1 INT) in the fourth quarter. RB Matt Forte (9 rushes, 19 yards) remains missing in action, but he did not get much help from the offensive line. WR Brandon Marshall (3 catches, 70 yards) had a few big catches, but was not much of a factor.

Todd Bowles dooms Jets waiting too long to go to Geno Smith (NY Post)

Todd Bowles is not prone to making rash, knee-jerk decisions.

The Jets head coach, however, was in a position Monday night where he needed to make a bold in-game change at quarterback, and he didn’t do it until it was too late.

Buster Skrine piles up the penalties in sloppy Jets loss (NY Post)

With a reputation for aggressive play and inopportune penalties, Jets defensive back Buster Skrine did nothing to change that perception Monday night in a 28-3 loss to the Cardinals.

By early in the second half, Skrine had been flagged for six penalties, though two were declined. During one segment in the first period, Skrine, in his sixth year out of Tennessee-Chattanooga, was called for three straight holds.

Jets season all but over after embarrassing 28-3 loss to Cardinals drops record to 1-5 (New York Daily News)

The Jets’ 28-3 loss to the Cardinals Monday night was a special brew of ineptitude that unofficially ended their season two weeks before Halloween. It was an embarrassing display by a desperate team teetering on irrelevance. It was painful on the eyes.

Jets run defense vanishes in desert, allow season-high 171 rushing yards to Cardinals (New York Daily News)

The Jets entered Monday night’s contest against the Cardinals with the best rushing defense in the NFL. But in a game they absolutely needed to win to keep their sinking season alive, the Jets let Arizona running back David Johnson gash them for 111 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns in a devastating 28-3 loss.

Ryan Fitzpatrick replaced by Geno Smith as Jets drop 4th in row (Newsday)

But in the end, none of it mattered. Smith’s insertion couldn’t salvage the game, nor could it buy him a chance at starting next week. Shortly after the Jets were embarrassed in front of a national audience in Monday night’s 28-3 loss to Arizona, Bowles reiterated his unwavering support for starter Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Geno Smith frustrated, believes he’s ready to step in (Newsday)

The starter-turned-backup finally got off the bench Monday night and appeared in a game. It was garbage time, of course, the final eight minutes of a blowout loss that had been building since the second quarter. A three-touchdown deficit and an utterly inept offensive showing ushered in “Geno Time.” But in the blink of an eye, it was over, and so was his run with the first-team offense.

Time for the Jets to pull Ryan Fitzpatrick (Newsday)

Fitzpatrick might — might — still give them the best chance to win as the upcoming schedule softens. But they have an infinitesimal chance to make the playoffs, and their 33-year-old quarterback is playing under a one-year, $12-million contract after he decided to bet on himself rather than sign a longer-term deal. Oops.

Comedian Larry David curbs his enthusiasm over the Jets (ESPN.com)

Walking to the suites-level elevator after the 28-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night, the comedian/Jets fan was asked what he thought of his team’s performance.

“Oh, wonderful,” David said. “Couldn’t have been more pleased.”

Jets’ Todd Bowles won’t bench his QB, but he needs to do something — fast (ESPN.com)

When a team falls into a losing spell, avoiding the end zone as if it’s a radioactive dump site, the beleaguered coach usually makes the handbook move: Bench the quarterback and tell everyone the decision was done to create a spark.

New York Jets coach Todd Bowles took that option off the table after Monday night’s 28-3 loss to Arizona, declaring that Ryan Fitzpatrick will remain the starter even though he pulled him for the final eight minutes of garbage time.

Jets, Cardinals caught in penalty vortex that reveals larger trends (ESPN.com)

Nineteen penalties. Thirteen in the first half alone. Plus another four declined.

In 60 minutes of football Monday night, we saw a total of 23 penalty flags in the Arizona Cardinals’ 28-3 romp over the New York Jets. They came in all shapes and sizes, for both legitimate and questionable reasons. But in sum, they helped convey an inescapable sense of atrocious football on a national stage in a season clouded by an unexpected drop in television ratings.

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Opponent Aftermath: Jets reeling after blowout loss to Cardinals