The Jets’ season is fizzling out as they limp to the finish line. The Jets lost 30-20 on Sunday to the Panthers, making it nearly impossible for them to make the playoffs. They made it a game for three quarters, but then fell apart. Here’s a look at the Jets winners and losers from the game:
Winners
SHELDON RICHARDSON – The big rookie had good moments on both sides of the ball. Richardson, a top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year, moved to the offensive side of the ball at the goal line and got his first two carries, scoring a touchdown on the second. His best play on defense was chasing Panthers quarterback Cam Newton down from behind when he scrambled just before halftime. Richardson showed his closing speed and his strength in bringing Newton down. Richardson’s emergence has to be the best development this season.
QUINTON COPLES – Speaking of first-round picks, the 2012 first-rounder has improved mightily lately. Coples had a very active game. He was in Newton’s face a bunch, including on Carolina’s attempted fourth-and-2 play in the third quarter. Coples finished with five tackles, one sack, two tackles for a loss, one quarterback hit and one pass defended. Moving Coples to outside linebacker was a risky decision, but it looks like a good one right now.
JEFF CUMBERLAND – On a day the offense could barely get anything going, Cumberland was the exception. He made three catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. The big play was a 35-yard catch on the drive that ended with Richardson’s touchdown. It was a short pass that Cumberland turned into a big gain. Cumberland is a free agent this winter. He has done enough this season to be brought back.
Losers
SANTONIO HOLMES – You knew the moment Holmes opened his mouth Thursday that calling the Panthers secondary the “weakest link” would come back to bite him. Boy, did it. The Panthers defensive backs were all over Holmes, abusing him on the line of scrimmage. He could barely get off the line in many cases. He did not have a catch until the fourth quarter and finished with two catches for 14 yards. Holmes won’t be the Jets’ headache much longer. They are certain to release him this offseason.
BEN KOTWICA – The special teams coach screwed up and it was a costly error. Kotwica decided to use three flyers (players split out that are the lead runners downfield) on punts against Ted Ginn. The Jets felt that would give them an advantage against the speedy Ginn. But by doing so, they allowed the Panthers to line up a rusher over the long snapper. Panthers linebacker Jason Williams beat Jets long snapper Tanner Purdum on a punt in the fourth quarter and got the block. It changed the entire game. It’s easy to understand what Kotwica was thinking, especially after Ginn returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in one game against the Jets in 2009 when he was with the Dolphins, but the risk outweighed the reward. It’s tough to ask a long snapper to block someone after snapping when they have not faced a rusher in a long time.
THE FANS – Many of you accepted this year was going to be a rebuilding year for 2014 and beyond, but then the Jets teased you. Like they often do, they made you believe and then fell apart. At 5-4, coming off wins over the Saints and Patriots in a span of three weeks, it felt as if this team might shock everyone and make the playoffs. Since then, they’ve lost four of five. Put it on the list of Jets late-season collapses. For Jets fans, it’s “wait til next year” yet again.