Jets Try Something New but End Up With a Similar Result

Jets Try Something New but End Up With a Similar Result
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ― With nothing at stake in the Jets’ game Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, it had an experimental feeling at the start. Out of the playoffs, the Jets loosened the restraints on their playbook a bit.

Greg McElroy, the third-string quarterback, made his first career start, and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley made two pass attempts. Enjoyable diversions for a team that has had few lately.

The end result, however, was a 27-17 loss to a Chargers team that is also out of the postseason picture. Those few fans who remained at MetLife Stadium for the Jets’ home finale booed as the clock ticked down.

Mark Sanchez, the face of the franchise for four seasons, did not take a snap, in perhaps the cutting of the cord on an era that feels as if it began decades ago.

Neither did Tim Tebow, who was in uniform but might as well have been in street clothes on the sideline ― the Jets twice running the Wildcat in a display that bordered on teasing.

Perhaps Sanchez and Tebow should consider themselves fortunate. The Jets allowed 11 sacks ― the most they have given up since 1987, and the most by any team since 2007 ― leaving McElroy to be hit over and over.

“You’re not beating anybody when you play like that,” Jets Coach Rex Ryan said. “It’s just hard to put into words.”

The offensive line had seemed like one of the team’s solid spots. But the Jets (6-9) continue to find new depths to their ineptitude. McElroy shouldered part of the blame by saying he held onto the ball too long several times.

“You don’t pay attention to the numbers,” he said. “We’ve just got to do a better job getting on the same page, and I’ve got to do a better job anticipating things.”

McElroy completed 14 of 24 passes, some with impressive precision. He also threw an interception and lost a fumble ― the 35th turnover by the Jets this season ― but Ryan said he showed enough to earn a second start next week at Buffalo.

“When he wasn’t on his back, I thought he did some good things,” Ryan said.

The day began with another special-teams misstep: McElroy was sacked on third down on the Jets’ opening drive, and the Chargers’ Michael Spurlock returned the ensuing punt 63 yards for a touchdown 1 minute 59 seconds into the game.

The crowd booed, albeit lightly. They had seen this show before. Resigned to humiliation, one disappointment outflubbing the next, they must have partly expected a deficit.

The Jets responded, running a screen pass to Shonn Greene for 30 yards. Then Kerley lined up at quarterback and threw a 42-yard completion down the middle of the field to Clyde Gates, who hauled it in at the Chargers’ 11.

The Wildcat’s success was a final indignity for Tebow, who did not play in Sunday’s game. Not in a goal-line situation. Not on fourth-and-inches. Not even as a punt protector. If this was his farewell to the New York fan base ― the very fans he was brought in to inspire ― his absence was a loud and clear acknowledgment of the Jets’ blunder in trading a fourth-round draft pick for him.

Ryan danced around questions about why Tebow was active when there seemed no plan to use him. His response several times was that he planned to use Kerley in the Wildcat.

“I had the intention to use Kerley in a number of situations,” Ryan said. “I thought we could create some big opportunities, some big plays. Again, that was my decision.”

The formation was practiced last week, and Ryan said he told the offensive coordinator, Tony Sparano, to use Kerley.

“I’m trying desperately to win a game,” Ryan said. “I’m not going to apologize for putting Jeremy Kerley in the Wildcat. He’s been effective in the past.”

Kerley’s completion amounted to more yards than Tebow has thrown for all year.

“I was just hoping it was going to be successful and work,” Tebow said of Kerley’s pass.

After the catch by Gates, McElroy scrambled for 7 yards and appeared to tumble into the end zone but was ruled down at the 1. A challenge by Ryan confirmed the call. Two plays later, Greene ran in to tie the score at 7-7.

The Jets scored on their third drive with another 1-yard touchdown run by Greene. But the offense stalled after that.

The Chargers (6-9) took a 17-14 lead on their first drive of the third quarter, as Philip Rivers completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Danario Alexander. Rivers added a 34-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates with 1:34 left in the third quarter.

With the lead, the Chargers’ pass rushers had a field day. On the Jets’ final drive, McElroy was sacked on three straight plays.

“We’ve obviously got to do a better job,” center Nick Mangold said. “They brought some pretty good pressures and twists and stuff. But we’ve got to make sure that we give Greg or whoever’s back there the time they need.”

Chargers defensive end Corey Liuget said the pass rush became like a game for himself and his teammate Cam Thomas.

“Cam said, ‘Meet me at the ball’ a couple of times, and I told him, ‘I’m going to beat you there,’ ” Liuget said. “We just kept playing hard.”