OAKLAND, Calif. -- The New York Jets' defense was challenged by coach Todd Bowles last week in a meeting room -- the defensive line, in particular. Some players were caught by surprise, but they vowed to respond with a bounce-back performance against the Oakland Raiders.
They failed. Miserably.
With no pass rush, poor coverage and shoddy tackling -- the trifecta nobody wants -- the Jets were embarrassed 45-20 at a raucous Oakland Alameda-Coliseum on Sunday. The Jets allowed touchdowns of 26, 43 and 52 yards, the latter two on the ground. All told, they surrendered 410 total yards, putting the team in a 14-0 hole and wearing down in the fourth quarter. The Jets have allowed 818 yards in two games. That stinks.
"We're supposed to be a run-stopping defense," linebacker Jordan Jenkins said. "We have to find ways to eliminate that. It's getting to the point where it's out of hand."
Look, no one expected the Jets to upset the Raiders -- they're in different leagues -- but this was troubling because the defense was supposed to be their strength. If you can't count on your strength to carry the team, what do you really have?
Afterward, Bowles admitted his defense is "not very good at all," adding, "Some of the young guys played young at times." He tried to find some positives, telling the players the game was decided by only five key plays. Hey, he has to try something.
What it means: The Jets are 0-2 for the first time since 2007. The 45 points were the most allowed by a Bowles-coached team. Anybody surprised? Didn't think so. Actually, they were competitive for two-plus quarters -- it was 21-13 in the third quarter -- but their personnel deficiencies were unmasked by the Raiders. Kalif Raymond's muffed punt before halftime, setting up an easy Oakland touchdown, was an absolute killer. Bowles' challenge is to keep the team unified as the losses begin to mount. On the positive side, so to speak, the "Suck for Sam" campaign is thriving.
What the Jets did well: You might not believe this, but they actually improved on offense from Week 1. Jermaine Kearse, already their No. 1 receiver, scored two touchdowns. The pass protection was surprisingly effective and Josh McCown (17-for-25, 166 yards) had only one turnover (a strip sack) and showed more aggressiveness than last week. It might not sound like much, but it's something to build on.
What the Jets didn't do well: Aside from Morris Claiborne, the Jets didn't make any significant additions at cornerback. They put their trust in Buster Skrine and Juston Burris, figuring they'd hold up as the No. 2 and No. 3 corners. The Raiders saw them as the weak links in the secondary and attacked. Michael Crabtree had a career game, beating Burris for two touchdowns and Skrine once. Burris also missed a tackle on a 43-yard touchdown run by Cordarrelle Patterson, who lined up as a running back.
Fantasy fallout: Kearse, who arrived at the end of the preseason in a trade, has emerged as the No. 1 fantasy option. He and McCown already have good chemistry. The Jets went with a three-headed backfield, giving rookie Elijah McGuire his first shot. This meant less work for Matt Forte, whose fantasy value is slipping
Where's the pass rush? Bowles' challenge to the defensive line apparently didn't spark the highly-paid linemen. Derek Carr was hardly touched, as Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams & Co. struggled against Oakland's terrific offensive line. That lack of a legitimate edge rusher was readily apparent. It's hard to sack Carr because he throws quickly, but the Jets had no quarterback hits.
What's next: The Jets have their home opener against the Miami Dolphins, a chance to even their division record at 1-1. The Dolphins won both meetings last season, as their defensive front caused problems for the Jets. It'll be interesting to see the number of no-shows at MetLife Stadium. The Jets aren't giving their fans much to cheer about and there's a segment of the fan base that wants them to lose every game to secure the No. 1 pick. The atmosphere could be ... well, odd.