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10 Most Embarrassing Moments Of The Last Decade Of Jets Football

By Daniel Friedman
» More Columns

Not that it's fun to poke fun at the Jets, but these days, it's just so darn easy. What went down Sunday was yet another example of bad fortune that this team has experienced during its history.

You know the all-time classic blunders -- from the "fake spike" play, to the Bubby Brister shovel pass to the Mark Gastineau game in Cleveland, to name a few -- but let's instead look back at the 10 most embarrassing moments of the last decade:

10. Every Wildcat Play Since Brad Smith's Departure

Can anyone remember the last time the Jets gained more than half a yard on a wildcat play? Can anyone even remember the last time they didn't get stopped behind the line of scrimmage?

9. Timeout Wipes Out Tying TD in Green Bay (2014)

Stop me if you've heard this before: The Jets take a commanding lead and then watch it vaporize. In a last ditch effort, Geno Smith throws a touchdown pass to tie the game, but it's negated. Why? Because someone (we now know it was Sheldon Richardson) calls timeout just before the snap. Yikes.

8. 34-0 Loss to 49ers/ Santonio Holmes' Horrendous Fumble (2012)

San Francisco 49ers v New York Jets
Santonio Holmes, left, of the New York Jets writhes on the turf after fumbling a ball picked up by Carlos Rogers of the San Francisco 49ers during a game at MetLife Stadium on September 30, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Week 4 ends in disaster, as the Jets are absolutely trounced by San Francisco. Contributing to the loss is injured Holmes, who drops the ball while falling down, literally handing the Niners a touchdown.

7. Mark Sanchez's Final Games As a Jet (2012)

Determined to go out in dramatic fashion, Sanchez goes a combined 30-of-63 with seven turnovers in losses at Tennessee and Buffalo. While he was technically on the roster in 2013, well, you know what happened. Sanchez got injured during the preseason and never threw a football for the Jets again.

6. 45-3 Blowout Loss to New England (2010)

I'm not sure anything needs to be said, other than the final score.

5. Doug Brien Playoff Debacle In Pittsburgh (2004)

Vying for a chance to go to the AFC championship game, Jets' kicker Doug Brien misses not once, but twice in the last 2:02 of the fourth quarter. Not exactly a clutch performance.

4. Week 16 Loss to Giants (2011)

New York Giants v New York Jets
Victory Cruz, left, avoids a tackle by the Jets' Antonio Cromartie on Dec. 24, 2011. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

The Jets lose control of their own playoff destiny (and ultimately do not make it), as Victor Cruz's 99-yard touchdown reception leads the Giants, of all teams, to a 29-14 win.

3. Season Collapses In Five Weeks (2008)

The Jets' season was rolling smoothly until Brett Favre's arm fell off; their downfall from 8-3 to 9-7 and out of the playoffs culminating in a loss to, wait for it, Chad Pennington and the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. It was one of the worst reversals of fortune in NFL history.

2. Tebow Mania (2012)

Tim Tebow
File photo of Tim Tebow. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky /Getty Images)

Was there an actual football reason for this signing? Whatever the case, it didn't help on the football field. It didn't help ... at all.

1. The Butt Fumble (2012)

Mark Sanchez
Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

On Thanksgiving Day, Sanchez collides with Brandon Moore's behind and loses the football. The Patriots recover and return it for a touchdown. The rest, as they say, is history.

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