DENVER — The Jets didn’t just lose a game last night, they lost their season.
If you choose to, feel free to lay blame on the defense for the Jets being Tebowed in the Broncos stunning 17-13 comeback win last night at Mile High Stadium.
But it was Mark Sanchez and the Jets offense that lost this game and potentially a precious playoff berth.
“I lost the game,’’ Sanchez said. “I let the defense down, however you want to phrase it. It’s an embarrassing day by me.’’
As embarrassing as it was for Sanchez, who finished 24-of-42 for 252 yards and one killer interception, it was yet another night of logic-defying play from Tebow, the Broncos’ second-year quarterback who has led Denver to four wins in his five starts this season.
After looking like an inconsistent high school quarterback for more than 54 minutes of the 60-minute game, Tebow carried the Broncos on his back when it counted, driving the team 95 yards in 12 plays — and scoring the game-winning points on a 20-yard designed bootleg run with 58 secondsleft.
Tebow’s fast-growing legend is because of his uncanny knack for finding ways to win.
Sanchez, who in fairness has been a part of helping the Jets get to the last two AFC Championship games, needed a little more Tebow in him last night. He needed to find a way to win this game against a Denver team that’s not as talented as his Jets are.
Sanchez gave the Broncos hope with 4:24 remaining in the third quarter when he telegraphed a hospital pass in the direction of Plaxico Burress. The ball was picked off by Broncos cornerback Andre’ Goodman, who returned it 26 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 10-10.
It was Sanchez’s third pick-six of the season, and it was inexcusable. From the start of the play, Sanchez had his eyes so fixed on Burress — and no one else. He looked like a smitten teenager eyeing a girl across the dance floor at a high school mixer.
Everyone in the stadium knew who Sanchez was throwing to — including, of course, Goodman, who got such a good jump on the ball it looked as if he had spent the week sitting between Sanchez and Burress in the Jets’ offensive meeting room.
“I gave them a touchdown,’’ Sanchez said. “I shouldn’t have thrown it. It’s an embarrassing play on my part. I hurt the team and lost the game.’’
Burress, muttering only, “We just got to get better,’’ otherwise declined comment as he departed the losers’ locker room.
The Jets offense was an abysmal 3-of-14 on third down conversions.
All you need to know about the Jets’ offense last night is this: Their only touchdown came when left guard Matt Slauson scored on a 1-yard plunge into the end zone after recovering a fumble in the second quarter to give the Jets a 10-3 lead.
If a play ever symbolized the play of a team’s offense, that one did.
The irony — and agony — of how poorly the offense played is the Jets were playing a team whose offense looks at times as if its players should be wearing leather helmets.
So the loss lands at the feet of the Jets’ offense.
Asked about Sanchez, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who had a quiet four catches for 39 yards, said: “He’s our quarterback, the guy we’ve got to ride and die with for the rest of the season. He has to step it up. I believe in him.’’
The question now for the Jets, who have lost two consecutive games to fall to 5-5 with a fifth conference loss, is whether they can smoke-and-mirror their way to another miracle playoff berth.
When coach Rex Ryan, who looked and sounded as agitated as he ever has been after a game, was asked what this loss does to the Jets’ playoff hopes.
“Our playoffs start next week,” Ryan tersely replied. “We better find a way to beat Buffalo.’’
It’s amazing that just five days ago, with a home game against the rival Patriots, the Jets appeared poised to seize control of the AFC East. But they lost that game to New England.
And now this.
