EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — It took just one week for all those positive vibes to turn into frustration — again — for the New York Jets.
The offense struggled, the defense couldn’t make crucial stops and veteran players made key mistakes in a 27-12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
“It just wasn’t clicking,” coach Robert Saleh said.
This dud came after a stunning 31-30 victory at Cleveland last Sunday when Joe Flacco rallied New York from a 13-point deficit with 1:55 remaining. That had many fans wondering if — even with starting quarterback Zach Wilson out and likely back next week — the Jets are a different team than the sorry squads that had so many awful Sundays the past few years.
And they still might be. But not on this day.
The Jets were gouged early by Joe Burrow and the defending AFC champions and couldn’t recover. Four turnovers — Flacco lost two fumbles and was intercepted twice — didn’t help.
“It’s frustrating,” Saleh said. “Any time you turn the ball over and you only get one takeaway, obviously you’re not going to win the football game.”
The Jets failed to get in the end zone all day against the Bengals, settling for four field goals from Greg Zuerlein. They went 7 of 18 on third down and 0 for 3 on fourth. Flacco was 28 of 52 for 285 yards and two interceptions, and was under pressure all game.
New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco, center, is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson, right, and BJ Hill, left, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
