How Did Jets Explain Sauce Gardner's Big Completion In Game-Losing Drive?
It was late in the fourth quarter. The New York Jets were clinging to a five-point lead and held the Indianapolis Colts to a second-and-six from their 34-yard-line.
So long as New York did not give up a touchdown, a much-needed win was theirs.
Except that's exactly what happened. A 39-yard completion from the previously struggling Anthony Richardson to Alec Pierce over the near sideline set Indianapolis up inside Jets territory.
Four plays later, Richardson scored the game-winning touchdown in the 28-27 loss for New York. Pierce's big play to start the drive came with plenty of controversy as Jets' All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner looked like he had been burned in coverage. While the defense looked to be in a Cover-2 look, Gardner did not supply the necessary pressure needed to bump Pierce off the route.
It's a play that many analysts and fans have criticized the corner on.
To the Jets, though, the interim head coach made it clear that the buck starts with him there.
"I’ll always point the finger at myself first. I think that’s the best way to do it," Jeff Ulbrich explained. "And believe me, there’s accountability from a player standpoint, too, and we’ll take a hard look at that as well. But I always look at all the factors; the exact call, the best call, and then the best execution, too. So, all those things go into it."
Gardner's regression this season has been a hot topic for Jets fans over the last few weeks. The former two-time All-Pro has a coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus that is 20 points lower than the last two seasons for him.
While New Yor may be debating who is to blame most for the big play given up in yet another loss, a clear answer may be that everyone involved is the culprit.
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