After their 21-13 victory against the Texans in Week 9, the Jets had 10 days to prepare for the Cardinals.
The extended time was not nearly enough.
Arizona (6-4) steamrolled the Jets (3-7) 31-6 behind three Kyler Murray touchdowns on a beautiful day at State Farm Stadium with the roof open.
Aaron Rodgers and the entire Jets team had a rough day on both sides of the ball in Jeff Ulbrich’s fifth game as interim coach. He completed 22 of 35 passes for 151 yards with zero touchdowns.
Rodgers went into the blue medical tent in the third quarter following a fourth-down sack by Cardinals linebacker Xavier Thomas. But Rodgers cstayed in the game.
Garrett Wilson caught five passes for 41 yards and Breece Hall finished with 52 rushing yards on 10 carries.
However, the Jets’ defense had its worst performance of the season. Gang Green entered Sunday’s game fourth in the league in defense but looked nothing like one of the best units in the league.
Arizona’s offense put on a masterclass and scored on its first five possessions of the game. Murray finished the day 22 of 24 for 266 yards and a passing touchdown. He also recorded 21 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
The Cardinals finished with 404 total yards and 28 first downs.
The Jets’ culprit this season has been missed tackles, which continued against the Cardinals. Seemingly, on every drive of the game, the Jets missed several tackles on ball carriers.
Murray had the Jets’ defense on roller skates all day long and looked unprepared from the start despite the time off. Ulbrich attempted to challenge two plays he could not challenge due to NFL rules.
Offensively, the Jets also struggled after their first two drives ended in field goals. Their next three offensive drives ended in a punt, a lost fumble and another punt.
Gang Green’s play-calling was predictable, and the offensive line couldn’t protect Rodgers when Arizona consistently pressured and blitzed him. Sunday’s total was the fewest points the Jets have scored all season.
The Jets entered the game 10th in the AFC standings with very little margin for error after losing six of their first nine to begin the season. But just like a lot of this season, the Jets lacked a sense of urgency and focus throughout the game.
Arizona received the ball to begin the game and took a 7-0 lead on its first possession after James Conner got in the end zone on a one-yard run. This was after Murray completed a 45-yard pass to Conner, which got the ball down to the one-yard line.
Gang Green responded with an 11-play, 63-yard drive. However, the Jets only scored a field goal, which cut the deficit to 7-3 after Spencer Shrader‘s 25-yard field goal, his first NFL field goal.
Shrader was signed to the Jets practice squad on Oct. 30 and elevated before the game.
The Jets’ defense continued to have no answers for Murray and the Cardinals’ offense in the first quarter. Arizona scored a touchdown on a bootleg one-yard run by Murray, increasing its lead to 14-3.
The Jets responded but settled for another field goal, which made the score 14-6 after Shrader made his second one, this time from 45 yards.
While the Jets could only score field goals, the Cardinals kept scoring touchdowns. Murray completed a perfect pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Cardinals went up 21-6 late in the second quarter.
Gang Green received the ball to begin the second half and got it all the way to the three before the drive stalled out. After a Braelon Allen run, the Jets had three unsuccessful passing attempts and Rodgers was sacked on fourth down by Thomas to turn the ball over on downs.
Jets cornerback Brandin Echols suffered a concussion and did not return. Left tackle Tyron Smith also injured his neck and didn’t re-enter the game. Rookie first-round pick Olu Fashanu replaced Smith.
Next week, the Jets will play the Colts before a much-needed bye in Week 12.
