Rodgers and the Jets lose their fifth straight game in another low point to a rough season

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New York Jets made some major changes to try to jumpstart a once-promising season that was heading downhill.

Robert Saleh was fired as coach after a 2-3 start, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich changed offensive play callers and the Jets acquired Davante Adams to reunite him with Aaron Rodgers.

New York is somehow in even worse shape now.

The Jets lost 25-22 on Sunday to a New England team that had lost six straight and was forced to bring in Jacoby Brissett, the quarterback during the Patriots’ 1-4 start. Brissett, playin after rookie Drake Maye was sidelined with a concussion, led New England to its first home win in more than a year.

And helped send New York to its fifth straight loss — and third in a row under Ulbrich. The Jets are now tied with the Patriots for last place in the AFC East.

“This is a moment of darkness, and we understand that the outside world is going to get really loud right now,” Ulbrich said.

Added Rodgers: “Yeah, I’ve been in the darkness. You’ve got to go in there, make peace with it.”

Greg Zuerlein missed two kicks — a field goal and an extra point — and the Jets burned through all three first-half timeouts in the first quarter, two of them 44 seconds apart on the same drive.

“On one of them, we were lagging out of the huddle, one I was trying to get the protection right," said Rodgers, who threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns. "One I felt like we could have gotten off, but it was fine to take it there. Our operation was a little slow at times.”

New York used a timeout after an incomplete pass where Rodgers looked for Garrett Wilson. That timeout would have been handy during the Jets’ final drive that began from their own 30-yard line with 22 seconds remaining.

Another clock mishap occurred when New York drew a delay of game while lining up for a 2-point conversion after Braelon Allen rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 2:57 remaining. From the 7, Rodgers completed a pass to the 5 and the attempt failed.

“We’ve got to be better from an operations standpoint, just overall, and that’s every single player, every single coach. That’s Aaron. That’s all of us,” Ulbrich said.

Zuerlein missed an extra-point try in the first quarter, then was wide left on his 44-yard field goal attempt that would have enabled the Jets to pad their 16-14 lead in the fourth quarter. The veteran has missed six field goals this season.

Ulbrich insisted he didn't regret sticking with Zuerlein despite his recent misses.

“We’ve got to take a hard look at everything that we do, everything,” Ulbrich said. “It’s not just on Greg, it’s on all of us. We’ll do that this week.”

Haason Reddick's debut after a lengthy holdout didn’t provide an immediate lift to New York's defense.

The Jets allowed a Patriots offense that struggled mightily during Brissett’s five-game run as the starting quarterback to reach the end zone twice during the second half. On the winning drive, the Jets allowed the Patriots to convert a third-and-10 as cornerback Sauce Gardner was defending on the 34-yard pass play that moved the ball to the Jets 9-yard line.

“The NFL is hard. It’s hard to win. Harder when you make it difficult on yourself,” Rodgers said.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) runs into the end zone for a touchdown in front of New York Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt (55) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Dallas Stars interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, right, looks up toward the scoreboard in the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, left, and New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo, right, greet in the middle of the field following an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, left, and New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, right, meet in the middle of the field following an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) walks off the field following an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

CINCINNATI (AP) — With Joe Burrow at quarterback and an array of talented receivers, Cincinnati has a dangerous passing attack.

When it comes to running the ball, well, the Bengals are struggling.

Cincinnati had just 58 yards on the ground on a 37-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. It averaged just 2.9 yards per carry, continuing a season-long problem.

“We ran it well after the first game, ran it well for a couple weeks in a row there," Burrow said. “The last couple of weeks haven’t been good enough.”

The Bengals (3-5) were trying to reach .500 after posting consecutive road wins against the New York Giants and Cleveland. They rushed for 121 yards and two TDs in their 17-7 win against New York, but they had just 59 yards on the ground in last weekend's 21-14 win at the Browns.

It was more of the same against Philly.

Chase Brown led Cincinnati with 32 yards on 12 carries. Burrow had 15 yards on the ground, and Zack Moss finished with 11 on five attempts.

“It’s not like I called a lot of runs in the first half because we were moving the ball really well the way that we were attacking them,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “We threw the ball well. Sometimes when you’re not making a lot of damage there, you just keep the ball in the air.”

While Cincinnati struggled to run the ball, Philadelphia finished with 161 yards on the ground. Saquon Barkley had 108 yards on 22 carries, and quarterback Jalen Hurts had 37 yards and three TDs on 10 attempts.

Burrow had the passing game going early.

He completed his first eight passes on an opening 70-yard drive. He found Ja’Marr Chase for a 2-yard TD that made it 7-0 with 4:56 left in the first quarter.

Cincinnati was without top receiver Tee Higgins, who was sidelined by a quad injury.

“Whenever you don’t have some of your best players it always makes it tough," Burrow said. "We go out there with the guys we have. That’s the NFL. You’re expected to go out and play well.”

A key fourth-down play at the end of the third quarter swung the momentum toward the Eagles.

On fourth-and-1 from their own 39-yard line, the Bengals decided to throw the ball. Burrow found Chase in the flat, and the star receiver was tackled by rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean for a 2-yard loss.

“Guy made a good play," Burrow said. "We didn’t get the fourth down, they kick the field goal and we’re down 10. Then I throw the pick. At that point, it was an uphill battle.”

When it comes to the rushing game, Bengals center Ted Karras said the team needs to do a better job of executing its assignments.

“It creates more confidence to call more,” he said. "It’s kind of a volume thing. Overall, we need get a head on a hat and get the ball downhill. I’m going to check the tape. We need to get that rolling.”

In a 41-38 overtime loss to Baltimore on Oct. 6, the Bengals led by 10 points on three occasions in the second half but were unable to consistently run the ball to protect those leads.

“When you play good (pass) rushers like we have the past couple weeks, you have to keep them off balance and be able to run the ball,” Burrow said. "If you don’t, play-action isn’t going to be as good and you’re going have to drop back and make plays. That’s what those teams want. It’s tough.”

The running game will be key for the Bengals as they try to make an unlikely playoff push. They are 0-4 at home so far this season.

“I think 10 wins usually gets you in (the playoffs)," Burrow said. "So we have to win seven out of nine. That’s doable. Any game is winnable. Just got to go do it.”

AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looks to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looks to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor talks to reporters following an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Cincinnati. The Eagles won 37-17. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor looks on during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (31) is pushed out of bounds by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, center, and safety Reed Blankenship, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown, left, dives in for a touchdown in front of Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (8) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)