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In the fourth quarter, the Jets were down 35-31 to the Raiders, and had a 3rd-and-5 at their own 29, and left tackle Olu Fashanu had a false start, so it made it third-and-long.
After the flag, Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby pointed to the north end zone and pumped his fists at the Raiders fans, who were making so much noise; it likely contributed to the false start.
It sounded like a Raiders home game today at MetLife.
Jets fans seem to be checking out a little, and many seem to have a proclivity to sell their tickets on StubHub.
This isn’t a criticism of the fans, just an assessment of what we are seeing at MetLife Stadium today and at some other home games this year.
Jets management can’t be thrilled with what seems to be sinking interest from their fan base…
Speaking of Jets management, before the game, during pregame warmups, perhaps the most powerful figure, nobody really talks about, Ira Axselrad, was seen having a long talk with GM Darren Mougey.
He was also seen talking to Jets executive Rick Spielman.
Axselrad, a brilliant lawyer and money manager, is Woody’s right-hand man, and wields enormous power in the building.
Wouldn’t you love to have been a fly on the wall for these conversations…
Another bad outing for the Jets’ defense.
It’s become quite clear that whoever made the decision that Aaron Glenn should call the defense and manage the game as head coach might have miscalculated matters.
Think about it.
Last year, Glenn took quite a bit of criticism for his game management, so you could argue it might not be a great idea to put more on his plate.
So what has happened is, he has not improved in clock management, and he’s not done a great job as DC.
He’s not a great DC. He’s an okay one. He was an okay one in Detroit. The media over-hyped him as a DC. Okay, not great.
Having him handle both jobs this year – head coach (CEO managing the game) and calling the defense, was a mistake of biblical proportions…
Harrison Phillips went on a cart to the X-ray room after the game, and was limping around the locker room.
He’s clearly injured, and while he’s a warrior, and ultimate team player, a man of great character, who always wants to play through injuries, take a shot or whatever it take to get out there, maybe it’s time to not do that for a few games, and let him heal. Maybe let Jack Heflin take over for him.
Do you really think an injured Phillips is better than a healthy Heflin? Not really. Not at this point of Phillips’ career…
Winning programs don’t do this.
It was pretty clean the Jets game out on offense on the first series in full appeasement mode.
After the childish narrative all week about they need to get Garrett Wilson the ball more, with media pounding the drum on this. Cearly some Jets decision-makers bought the narrative.
Yes, the first offensive play was successful, a 31-yard strike to Wilson down the left side.
But then, later in the series, on a 2nd-and-3, from the Las Vegas three, Smith forced a pass Wilson on the right side of the end zone that was broken up by cornerback Eric Stokes.
Here is the issue with this call.
The Raiders other starting corner, Darien Porter, was injured on the Jets’ first offensive play, that long strike to Wilson.
So a backup cornerback was in for Porter, so why are you forcing a pass at the other team’s only starting cornerback out there? Why not go after the backup on the other side, considering the Jets have a cornucopia of good receivers like AD Mitchell, Omar Cooper, and Isaiah Williams?
This drive ended up with a Jets field goal. As did the second drive. On a 3rd-and-2 from the Raiders’ 2, Smith threw an incompletepass on the right side, once again at Stokes, instead of taking advantage of the backup on the other side.
After these appeasement drives, the Jets offense went back to the way you are supposed to play offense – just throw to the open guy, and they exploded, scoring touchdowns on their next two drives, with an 18-yard TD to Williams and a 12-yard strike to Mitchell.
One thing great leaders avoid is governing by public opinion polls.
The next time media and fantasy football experts are attacking you for not getting a receiver more involved, ignore them.
Forcing the ball to a receiver to make a statement or to appease is not the way to go.
November 1, 2026
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