Jets ruin chance to gain ground in AFC Wild card race, fall late to Lions: Best memes, tweets

The New York Jets blew a late lead to the Detroit Lions in Week 15, losing 20-17 and dropping in the AFC playoff picture.

The New York Jets watched as the Buffalo Bills clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Miami Dolphins. With the Dolphins dropping to 8-6, they had the chance to gain ground in what is a packed AFC playoff picture. They had to face off against the red-hot Detroit Lions with Zach Wilson returning at quarterback due to a rib injury to Mike White.

It looked as though the Jets pulled out a late victory with a touchdown pass from Wilson to tight end C.J. Uzomah. However, New York’s defense surrendered a 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown by tight end Brock Wright to allow Detroit to take a late 20-17 lead with under two minutes remaining. That proved to be the game-winner after Greg Zuerlein missed a potential game-tying, 58-yard field goal in the closing seconds of regulation.

With this, the Jets are now 7-7 on the season and on the outside looking in when it comes to a Wild Card berth.

Jets blow late lead to red-hot Lions, fall to 7-7 on year: Best memes, tweets

Let’s take a look at some of the reactions to the Jets losing their third-game in a row, while the Lions have won six of their last seven games.

There was plenty of criticism regarding the clock management on the Jets. They had three timeouts at their disposal with less than a minute remaining. After two pass completions to wide receiver Garrett Wilson (22-yards, 10-yards), head coach Robert Saleh didn’t use a timeout, instead going no huddle. That took off a significant amount of time off the play clock.  Saleh did use his first timeout on Elijah Moore’s catch, but left one-second on the clock and set up Zuerlein’s field goal attempt that sailed wide left.

As for Wilson, starting his first game since the team’s Week 9 loss to the New England Patriots, he completed 18-of-35 pass attempts for 317 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The pick he threw in their opening drive of the third quarter turned into three points scored by the Lions, as they received the football at New York’s own 15-yard line.

With just three games remaining, the Jets will have to win out to have a good chance of making the playoffs. Plus, they’ll have to decide what to do at quarterback if White is cleared to play. New York next plays on Thursday night against a Jacksonville Jaguars team that defeated the Dallas Cowboys in overtime in Week 15.