If anyone needed an example of how much the NFL’s operations depend on success, here it is. Clearly frustrated with his team’s struggles, Glenn is desperate for a spark, especially after their collective miscues doomed them in an otherwise competitive game in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Thursday night.
To Fields’ credit, he made some positive plays. Designed runs worked well for the Jets early in the game, helping to fuel an impressive opening drive that ended with a rushing Fields field goal. The Ohio State product also threw a handful of incredibly accurate passes, though most were dropped by his intended targets on a night as one passer, newly acquired receiver Adonai Mitchell, struggled mightily.
Glenn acknowledged Fields’ contributions, saying the quarterback “did some good things” in the 27-14 loss to the Patriots. But some good things might not be enough.
“Obviously we have to do better in the passing game and that has a lot to do with Justin getting the ball to the right guys,” Glenn said. “And also the guys, when they get a chance to get the ball, they make those plays.
In most cases, the Jets aren’t making plays like this. Fields is not to blame either; He’s consistently ranked near or near the bottom of NFL.com’s QB index this season because he’s been painfully substandard for an NFL quarterback as a pass rusher and has struggled with ball security while leading an offense that simply doesn’t threaten most defenses.
“Not good enough,” Fields said Thursday night after the loss to the Patriots. “You know, we lost the game, so it wasn’t good enough. Every time we lose, my performance isn’t good enough.”
Even in their last win, a 27-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Fields completed just 6 of 11 passes for 54 yards, one touchdown (via a screen pass and a long run after the catch by running back Breece Hall) and one terrible interception that led to a Browns score. The Jets could thank their special teams, who accounted for two touchdown returns, for that win.
In Taylor’s last game as a starter, New York’s offense looked its best all season, holding off the dominant Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 29-27 loss way back in Week 3.
At the very least, with a week to prepare as the starter, Taylor could increase the chances of a Jets victory. In a 2-8 season, that can go a long way for a team that all misses the postseason.
“I think what you hear when you get those quarterback changes is, ‘Man, I’m trying to get a spark for the team,'” Glenn said. “But to me it’s more or less, man, I’m trying to make the best decision to give our guys a chance to win because to me, a spark is really a short-term deal. And I don’t know if that’s what other coaches’ decisions are, but man, I want to make a decision to give us a chance to win.”
We’ll see if it really is as simple as Glenn made it out to be on Friday.