The Jets remain on Santa Claus’ naughty list three days before Christmas.
Following their first victory since Halloween against the Jaguars, the Jets (4-11) fell to the Rams (9-6) 19-9 on a cold, blustery afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
The loss was the Jets’ 10th in 12 games and eighth since Jeff Ulbrich became interim coach on Oct. 8. It is the third time out of five seasons the Jets will lose at least 11 games in a season (2020, 2021).
Aaron Rodgers had another solid outing after he completed 28-of-42 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown pass. However, his fumble in the fourth quarter put the game on ice after the Rams added a 45-yard field goal by Joshua Karty.
Breece Hall registered with 90 all-purpose yards. Davante Adams caught seven passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford finished 14-of-19 for 110 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. However, the Rams relied on their rushing attack to generate yards offensively. Running back Kyren Williams ran for 120 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
After going for it on fourth down five times, Gang Green did not punt the entire game. It converted on 2 of 5 fourth-down attempts.
The Jets won the coin toss and deferred until the second half. However, Los Angeles punted the ball after its drive stalled at Gang Green’s 37-yard line.
After Rams’ Ethan Evans punted the ball to the one-yard-line, the Jets drove 99 yards to score on their opening drive for the second consecutive week. To end the drive, Rodgers found Adams for an 11-yard touchdown pass, which was the 499th of his career. Anders Carlson missed the extra point, so the score remained 6-0.
That touchdown (82) tied Rodgers and Adams for third-most for a quarterback-receiver duo with former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and wide receiver Mark Clayton.
The Jets led more than halfway through the second quarter until Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich’s gusty playcalling backfired. On 4th and 1 at the Jets’ 33-yard line, Ulbrich decided to go for it and ran Breece Hall to pick up the first down. However, the Rams defense stopped Hall before he reached the first-down marker, and the Jets turned the ball over on down.
Los Angeles then took advantage of excellent field position and scored a touchdown in just three plays. Stafford’s 18-yard screen pass to Puka Nacua set up Kyren Williams’ two-yard touchdown run, which tied the game 6-6 after Joshua Karty missed the extra point.
The Jets got the ball back before halftime, and Carlson added a 21-yard field goal, giving them a 9-6 lead at the break.
After Gang Green received the ball following halftime, the team couldn’t put points on the board. On 4th and 4 on the Rams’ 13, the Jets went for it again and came up empty after cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon broke up Rodgers’ pass to Adams.
Just like previously, when the Jets went for it in enemy territory, the Rams made the Jets pay following the turnover on downs. But Gang Green held Los Angeles to a 38-yard field goal by Karty, which tied the game 9-9.
Four minutes into the fourth quarter, disaster struck for the Jets. Rams safety Kam Curl stripped-sacked Rodgers and linebacker Jared Verse recovered the fumble on the Jets’ 21-yard-line.
Three plays later, Stafford completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee, which made the score 16-9 with 10:11 remaining. Rodgers then went to the injury tent after he appeared to have injured his leg during the sack. He came back on the Jets’ next drive but was noticeably limping.
At the 5:17 mark in the fourth quarter, the Rams extended their lead to 19-9 after Karty’s 45-yard field goal was successful. With 1:57 remaining, the Jets tried to cut into the Rams lead, but Carlson’s 49-yard field goal was wide right.
In the fourth quarter, Jets rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu suffered a foot injury and needed assistance to the sideline. He eventually was carted off to the locker room and was quickly ruled out after he couldn’t put weight on his left foot.
Next week, the Jets will travel for their final road game of the season to play division rival Buffalo at Highmark Stadium.