The New York Jets, a team accustomed to disappointment after 14 consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, reached a new low during Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. The first half was so disastrous that a veteran reporter described it as one of the worst he had ever witnessed.
Hopes were high for the Jets’ offense heading into the Week 5 matchup, as they faced a Cowboys defense that had allowed the most yards in the league through the first four weeks. Instead, New York’s offense was completely stifled, managing only three points and 134 total yards before halftime.
In stark contrast, the Cowboys’ top-ranked offense dominated a lifeless Jets defense, putting up 23 points and 292 yards to take a commanding 23-3 lead into the locker room. Dallas achieved this offensive outburst despite being without four of its five starting offensive linemen.
The performance prompted a harsh assessment from longtime ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini, who has covered the team since 1989. “I’ve covered the Gase Jets. I’ve covered the Kotite Jets. That was as bad a half as I’ve ever seen,” Cimini posted on X.
Cimini’s statement carries significant weight, as he reported on some of the franchise’s most challenging periods, including the 1-15 season in 1996 under coach Rich Kotite.
Barring a dramatic second-half turnaround, the Jets are on track to fall to 0-5, which would mark the worst start to a season in franchise history. Such a result would inevitably intensify scrutiny on first-year head coach Aaron Glenn and his efforts to rebuild a team that appears to be at one of its lowest points.
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