New York Jets vs Kansas City Chiefs: Why Gang Green lost in NFL Week 3
After the New York Jets thrilling victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week 2, Gang Green lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 24-3. Who is to blame for this Week 3 loss? Ryan Fitzpatrick? Todd Bowles? The Jets defense?
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Chiefs thrive on turnovers in 24-3 blowout of Jets Daniel Sorenson was regaling a group of reporters about his first career interception, one of six by the Kansas City Chiefs in their 24-3 victory over the New York Jets, when cornerback Marcus Peters leaned over from the locker stall next to him. ”You should have caught the first one,’& |
| Source: sports.yahoo.com/news/chiefs-thrive-turnovers-24-3-blowout-jets-013602835–nfl.html | |
New York Jets Receivers
Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Quincy Enunwa, Jalen Marshall failed Ryan Fitzpatrick. They were responsible for the New York Jets not able to convert more 1st downs. Many times during the game, Marshall, Decker, Enunwa and Jalen dropped passes that were right in their hands. As a result, the Jets punted the football back to the Kansas City Chiefs. But the receivers were to blame for an even worse sin: tipped passes. Even though Fitzpatrick threw the ball accurately to them, they either tried to catch it with one hand or flailed their arms up in the air in an attempt to catch it in stride. The best example was in the 4th quarter at 8:25 minutes, 2nd and goal on the Chiefs 6 yard line. Down 17-3, Fitzpatrick threw a pass to Enunwa, who tipped the ball up in the air, which was then caught by the cornerback Marcus Peters for the interception in the endzone. This turnover ruined a scoring opportunity for Gang Green to get in the game. All of the tipped passes in the 1st half of the game by the receivers almost got intercepted by the Chiefs defense and would have made the score worse than it was.
Chiefs Coverage
The Chiefs defensive backs and linebackers were well prepared for the New York Jets offense. They knew the tendencies of Ryan Fitzpatrick, such as how he throws the football high in the air to his receivers. In the 1st quarter, on the Jets 22 yard line, 3rd down & 8, Ryan threw a high pass to rookie Jalen Marshall. CB Peters stepped in front of Marshall and jumped high in the air for the interception. Had he not jumped for the ball, it would would been caught by Jalen. Because Marcus knew how the QB throws the passes, he was able to get to the area of the football faster than the receiver. The Chiefs defensive players were also well aware of the routes in the Jets spread offense. In the 4th quarter, on the Chiefs 41 yard line, 4th and 10, Ryan threw a deep pass intended for Brandon Marshall but safety Sorenson stepped in front and intercepted the ball. And in the same quarter, on the Jets 49 yard line, 2nd & 2, Fitzpatrick threw a pass to running back Matt Forte, who was going on a wheel route on the right side of the formation. Linebacker Derrick Johnson, who was near the line of scrimmage faking a blitz, dropped back in coverage and got to the football before Forte could turn around to look for the pass. Johnson then returned the INT 55 yards for the touchdown, sealing the victory for Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs. All of the INTs in the 2nd half of the game were because the defenders anticipated the passes going to the destined routes of the receivers. By then, the Chiefs D knew all the ins and outs of offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s scheme. There was no route that Kansas City was not ready for.
Jets receivers dropping passes. Tipping footballs. These didn’t help Fitzpatrick. They were not the only ones to blame. Credit is due to the Chiefs defenders for figuring out the nuances of Gang Green’s spread offense and creating turnovers. Between the Jets shooting themselves in the foot and the Chiefs overmatching them on defense, the Jets were blown out by Kansas City.
