Much like a tooth in a dry socket, the Jets are a constant lesson in pain. New York proved that once again in Week 12.
The Jets botched upset chances against the Panthers in the most Jets ways possible
Mike Pennel couldn’t keep his hands off Cam Newton, and it cost New York.
Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
The Jets’ upset bid against 8-3 Carolina fell short in the fourth quarter thanks to a symphony of failure, giving the fans at MetLife Stadium several more reasons to drink their Thanksgiving weekend to a close. New York led 20-18 in the fourth quarter and had the ball at its own 45-yard line when Josh McCown was dropped for a sack, losing the ball in the process.
Luke Kuechly picked it up and rumbled 34 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. One two-point conversion later, the Jets lost two yards on their next three plays before punting the ball back to the Panthers.
That return went as poorly is it could have for New York. Kaelin Clay returned it 60 yards for a touchdown, extending his team’s lead to two possessions with 9:54 to play.
And yet, the Jets weren’t yet out of this game. McCown led his team 75 yards in eight plays to cut the Carolina lead to 32-27, culminating with a three-yard touchdown strike to Jermaine Kearse. The New York defense appeared to have held tight the following drive, allowing enough time for one final, game-winning drive when Cam Newton’s third-and-11 pass to Devin Funchess fell to the turf.
Instead, Mike Pennel drew a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty after crashing into Newton. The flag gave Carolina a new set of downs with 2:12 remaining in the game.
But the Jets STILL weren’t cooked. Graham Gano’s field goal made it 35-27 with 25 seconds left in the game, giving McCown a sliver of hope to lead New York back for an improbable win. What the few remaining fans at the stadium got was the world’s least enthusiastic last-ditch quasi-lateral play.
And with that, the Jets finally whittled away any chance of a home victory against a probable playoff team. News 12 reporter Jamie Stuart summed up the team’s litany of failures with a concise tweet:
New York is now 4-7 on the season after a 3-2 start.
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