The Jets (3-12) and the Saints (5-10) exchanged field goals in the first half, but New Orleans took advantage of second-half momentum as the Green & White fell, 29-6, at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
"I asked our players to play with effort," HC Aaron Glenn said. "And I thought our guys did that. I thought they went out there and they fought hard. They did everything they could to keep us in this game. There's a couple of things, from an overall perspective, that we've got to get better at."
The Jets' defense applied pressure early, keeping the Saints out of the end zone until the third quarter. The unit made a big play on the first possession, when S Malachi Moore ripped the ball loose from Taysom Hill and CB Qwan'tez Stiggers recovered at the New Orleans 37-yard line. The Green & White took advantage of the early turnover as Nick Folk converted a 29-yard FG attempt.
The Saints responded with field goals on two consecutive possessions, taking a 6-3 lead at the beginning of the second quarter.
The defense made another key play in the second quarter. With the Saints facing a fourth-and-1 from their own 45-yard line, Hill took a direct snap. But LB Jamien Sherwood -- who finished the game with 11 tackles, 2 TFL and 1 sack -- jumped over the line to make the stop.
See all of the best game photos from the Jets Week 16 game against the Saints.
The Jets, however, were unable to take advantage of the field position. A quick three-and-out put the ball back in QB Tyler Shough's hands. The defense looked poised to make another stop, but facing another fourth-and-1 in their own territory, Hill picked up a first down on a fake punt.
With just under two minutes remaining in the half, Shough attempted to connect with WR Chris Olave in the end zone. Stiggers was there to break up the pass, and the Saints settled for a FG.
The Jets had an opportunity to tie the game or take the lead heading into halftime, but Cook was sacked by Saints DE Cameron Jordan on two consecutive plays, and the Jets punted. K Charlie Smyth missed a 61-yard FG and the Jets entered the locker room trailing by 9-6.
In the second half, the Jets struggled to sustain drives, while Shough and the Saints found a rhythm. The Jets punted on both third-quarter possessions, while Shough connected with Olave for a 23-yard TD -- the first of four consecutive possessions with a score. The Saints added 2 FGs and 1 TD in the final stanza, while Jets rookie QB Brady Cook was strip sacked and threw an INT.
"Extremely disappointed," Cook said. "We came here prepared, ready to win this game, and we didn't do it. And naturally, you're going to feel disappointed from that. But, all we can do now is go back to work."
The Jets were unable to find the end zone in the loss, and the team did not put points on the board in the second half.
"If you look at the numbers, that's who they were -- a team that really exploded in the second half," Glenn said. "And they did exactly what we all knew they would do. And we have to do a better job of understanding that and playing to that. … We've got more two games left, and I want to continue to play with effort like we did."
Jetcetera
DL Jay Tufele sustained an ankle injury during the second quarter and did not return. … LB Jamien Sherwood took down QB Tyler Shough for a 10-yard loss on third down, his second sack of the season. … DL Jowon Briggs recorded his fourth sack of the season in the third quarter, while edge Will McDonald IV recorded his eighth of the season. … RB Isaiah Davis led the team with 52 receiving yards. … WR Arian Smith made a critical special teams' tackle in the third quarter, taking down Dante Pettis after he fielded Austin McNamara's punt at the New Orleans' 7-yard line.
