New York Jets Crash and Burn Against Tennessee Titans

Sep 29, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive end Ropati Pitoitua (92) sacks New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

It was an ugly 38-13 loss for the now 2-2 Jets at LP Field, Tennessee today as Geno Smith committed four turnovers. As bad as Smith looked for most of the game, he didn’t look nearly as bad as the Jets offensive line. They got repeatedly blown up by a tough Tennessee defense in the worst situations, particularly in the worst situations when the Jets were backed against their own endzone. Smith was hit 11 times, sacked five for a loss of 50 yards, and pressured constantly. With a line this bad, it’s no wonder his throws were inaccurate and he turned over the ball as often as he did. Smith finished the game 23/34 for 289 yards, 1 TD, 2 picks and 2 fumbles.

Jake Locker and the Titans opened the game by posting a 10 point lead in the first quarter off a Delanie Walker TD and a 26-yard Rob Bironas filed goal. The Jets were only able to muster two Nick Folk field goals in the second quarter while Locker continued to light up the Jets secondary, throwing for two more touchdowns. The first was to Nate Washington to put the Titans up 17-3, and the second was an incredible endzone catch by the rookie WR Justin Hunter with only seven seconds left in the quarter.

Jake Locker was hit hard early in the third quarter by Muhammad Wilkerson and had to be carted off the field. Locker finished 18/24 for 149 yards and 3 TDs, worth a passer rating of 130. After being carted off the field, former-Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick entered the game and had a mere pedestrian performance, although to be fair, the game was already out of reach. Fitzpatrick highlighted his performance with a 77-yard TD pass to Nate Washington. Washington beat Antonio Cromartie and crashed into a referee, and was able to stay on his feet to march uncontested into the endzone.

The low point for Geno Smith was Buttfumble 2.0, when he tried to switch hands holding the ball behind his back as he was getting sacked by Karl Klug. The ball bounced off the backside of Smith, and bounced into the hands of Klug in the endzone. He rebounded by throwing his only TD of the game on the following drive to Jeff Cumberland. The Jets finished the game with 10 penalties worth 66 yards, and ultimately lost the game due to careless mistakes.