DETROIT — The Jets started their season in the most ignominious way imaginable.
Sam Darnold, the team’s No. 3 overall pick who won the starting job and is their great quarterback hope of the future, scrambled madly on his first career snap against the Detroit Lions. He hurled a pass across his body and it was promptly intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Lions safety Quandre Diggs as Ford Field shook with a deafening roar.
The season was only a few seconds old, and already it felt as if hope was lost.
It all felt so very typical of the Jets. And it made what happened next all the more stunning.
Led by Darnold, the Jets picked themselves up off the turf, got back in the game and then went on to crush the Lions, 48-17.
Everything about it was shocking.
The way it started, with a stunning mistake. The way the Jets, who showed very little fortitude last in 2017, responded, seemingly inspired by the poise of their rookie quarterback. And the thoroughness of this beatdown. The Jets, who were expected by most to be a bad team this year, dominated every facet of the game.
The scored the final 31 points of the game. They scored their first defensive touchdown sine 2013 and their special teams touchdown since 2012. And Darnold finished 16 of 21 for 198 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
It’s still way too early to know what the Jets are going to be. Perhaps this was just one of those days where everything broke their way. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the start of something special.
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Nightmare start
The thing that was so impressive about Darnold during the preseason is that he didn’t make a major mistake. That changed in a hurry.
On Darnold’s first play from scrimmage, he dropped back for a play-action pass, avoided pressure and then stepped up and threw across the field to Bilal Powell who was streaking down the left sideline. But Darnold didn’t see safety Quandre Diggs, who was playing behind Powell. Diggs stepped up, intercepted the pass and then returned it 37 yards for the touchdown.
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