Well, that was fun. The New York Jets overcame a first play from a hell to throughly dominate the Detroit Lions 48-17. Yes, 48-17. This was not just your run of the mill blowout (which rarely occurs as is in the Jets favor), this was a Christmas Day, it is raining everything Jets fans ever wanted to see in the box score blowout. It was a cleansing primetime party where a long suffering fan base was able to throw their head back in laughter and enjoy the spoils of a potentially very bright future. Let’s dive into the goodness…

The first play of the game was the most Mark Sanchez, Brooks Bollinger, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith across the body, utterly insane pass many of us have seen. It was promptly returned for a touchdown leading to most of our text messages and Twitter to turn into a cesspool of people writing off Darnold’s career and gloating about being right on Teddy Bridgewater. WHOOPS!

Y’all need me to come…. OH WAIT YOU TRADED ME pic.twitter.com/46TkR0y89I — Bleacher Report NFL (@BR_NFL) September 10, 2018

The game quickly stabilized. The Jets defense and special teams set up good field position (HELLO, ANDRE ROBERTS) and Sam Darnold got himself into a rhythm. After an Isaiah Crowell touchdown run, a Morris Claiborne interception, the Jets were back in control of the game. And then right before the half we got a third down bomb from Darnold to Robby Anderson on his only target of the night for a touchdown of indescribable beauty. The Jets carried a 17-10 lead into the half.

In the second half, the Jets quickly allowed the Lions to score a game tying touchdown. It appeared we were heading to your typical gut wrenching back and forth game that would be decided late in the fourth quarter. However, the Jets answered with a prompt touchdown drive of their own capped by Quincy Enunwa showing why he remains a king of YAC and why articles questioning the Jets weapons this offseason were comically misplaced.

Then the party really started. A Darron Lee pick six? You got it. Another Darron Lee interception on a ridiculous leaping grab? Yup. How about a punt return for a touchdown from Roberts? Sure, why not? Jamal Adams first career interception? Yeah, let’s get that in the books too. Also how about a running back (Crowell) ripping off a 60+ yard touchdown, just to help put a little more salt in Giants fans wounds who celebrated their loss yesterday because their running back had a 60+ yard touchdown run. Sure!

In the end, it was a pummeling. After his interception, Darnold went 15/20 for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns, including going 4/4 on third down for 71 yards and a touchdown in the rest of the first half. Crowell cracked 100 yards on 10 carries.Bilal Powell had a 5 YPC on 12 carries. Seven different players had a reception, paced by Enunwa with 6 for 63 yards.

Outside of the first drive of the second half, the Jets defense was completely dominant. Jamal Adams had a TFL, interception and multiple pass breakups with no apparent lapses in coverage. Lee had multiple open field break ups, the first two interceptions of his career and another pass deflected. Henry Anderson provided consistent pressure all night and Frankie Luvu looked at home with major reps at outside linebacker. On the back end, Trumaine Johnson struggled a bit but the rest of the secondary more than held their own, especially Buster Skrine and Claiborne.

It was a hell of a start to the season and there is no reason to think the Jets can’t set themselves up for a faster start than many expected with Miami and Cleveland coming up next on the schedule…

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