Joe Namath has some simple advice for the New York Jets ahead of their Week 10 game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday night: stop beating yourselves and you might have the chance to defeat someone else.
“I’d like to see them play the kind of game to give themselves a chance. Don’t do stupid things like lining up offsides or forgetting the snap count. Or forgetting even the damn which way to run,” Namath told the New York Post. “Don’t beat yourselves to start out with. The opposition’s out there to kick your butt in the first place. You’re making mental mistakes, that’s downright ignorant, and you’re not gonna win.”
Broadway Joe made his comments this week in the shadow of the Jets’ dismal 27-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last week. In a crucial matchup with playoff implications, the Jets fell flat. They allowed a punt return TD to open the scoring, and their putrid offensive effort was lowlighted by several pre-snap penalties, dropped passes, a 3-for-17 conversion rate on third downs, eight sacks of quarterback Zach Wilson and no touchdowns scored.
Joe Namath believes Jets' struggles not only the fault of Zach Wilson
Earlier this season, Namath was very critical of Wilson, the third-year pro who’s struggling yet again since replacing the injured Aaron Rodgers four plays into the season.
The Jets have a winnable game this week against the Raiders. So, should Wilson be benched for either Tim Boyle or Trevor Siemian?
“Is the backup as good as Zach? No, or he wouldn’t be the backup,” Namath replied.
But it’s clear that the Jets legend sees their issues as greater than simply Wilson’s failures at QB.
“I see what is going on, and they are beating themselves,” Namath said. “You gotta coach guys better and the guys gotta learn better.”
Perhaps that statement was a swipe at coach Robert Saleh.
Nonetheless, the message from the Jets’ Super Bowl III hero is clear. Clean up your mess and give yourselves a chance Sunday against the Raiders.
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