Sam Darnold throws 4 interceptions in Jets' third loss in row

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Jets went down to Florida, and Sam Darnold and the offense wilted in the 87-degree heat. But it was even hotter in the locker room after Sunday’s head-scratching 13-6 loss to the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Intense Jamal Adams was even more fiery than usual after the Jets’ third straight loss.

“I’m sick of losing,” he said. “Honestly, I’m sick of losing. Enough is enough, honestly. I’m fed up with losing.”

This was an especially troubling loss for the Jets, who are 3-6 overall and 0-2 in the AFC East. It was the first of three straight division games, and they had hopes of going into the bye with a .500 record, but that’s out of the question now. They will host the Bills next week and, after the bye, host the Patriots.

The Jets’ defense did more than enough to win the game, holding the Dolphins without a touchdown and limiting them to 168 yards. They held Miami to 3-for-16 on third-down conversions and forced nine punts.

This loss was on Darnold and the offense. He had his worst game against a defense that had been friendly this season.

Darnold threw a career-high four interceptions, including a pick-6 in the fourth quarter that made it 13-3 and was the only touchdown of the game. Two of his other throws were dropped by defenders. He completed 21 of 39 for 229 yards and had a quarterback rating of 31.8.

“It starts with me,” Darnold said. “I’ve just got to be sharper. I have to have a better plan once I get to the line of scrimmage. I have to know exactly where to go with the ball. If one or two’s not there, go to three. I just got to have a better plan.”

The Jets were absolutely inept offensively. Their only points came on field goals of 48 and 56 yards by Jason Myers.

Receivers Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson returned from injury, but the Jets didn’t convert a third down until the fourth quarter and wound up 2-for-13 on third down. They ran for 80 yards against a team that had been allowing 143 per game.

The Jets’ center-quarterback exchange was awful.

Spencer Long, who has been dealing with a finger issue on his snapping hand for weeks, had numerous high and low exchanges with Darnold. After one, Darnold threw the pick-6. Another went over his head. Todd Bowles finally brought in Jonotthan Harrison to play center late in the fourth, but it was too late.

“We didn’t deliver for our defense,” tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “Our defense played their [butts] off today. One of the best defensive performances I’ve ever been a part of.”

Despite all of their struggles, the Jets still had a chance to tie or win in the closing seconds.

Darnold took over at the Jets’ 11 with 1:46 left and no timeouts. He completed his first two passes to Enunwa and Elijah McGuire for 36 yards, but his next three were incomplete. One was to Jermaine Kearse, who was standing out of bounds when he caught it. On fourth down, Darnold  underthrew Kearse and was picked off.

“I don’t have a general concern [about Darnold],” Bowles said. “I have a general concern about us scoring points and moving the ball consistently.”

It’s a legitimate concern, considering the Jets have averaged 11 points in their last three games and are having the same execution problems.

They had an extended third-quarter drive because of back-to-back facemask penalties, got to the Miami 20 and imploded. The next four plays went like this: Darnold was sacked for a 7-yard loss. Delay of game. Kearse dropped a short pass. Myers’ 50-yard kick missed badly, wide right.

“It’s not executing plays, not playing smart football,” Enunwa said. “It’s the same story.”

The game turned early in the fourth quarter with the Jets trailing 6-3 after two field goals by Jason Sanders. Deep in his own territory, Darnold dropped back looking for tight end Eric Tomlinson, but the pass was short. Jerome Baker picked it off and brought it back 25 yards for a touchdown that made it 13-3.

“I thought I’d be able to put it over him,” Darnold said. “Alligator-armed it and just threw it a little bit short.”

The way the Jets had been playing, the deficit seemed insurmountable, and it was.

After the Jets got within 13-6 on Myers’ 56-yard field goal, the defense made a big stop, but Darnold was intercepted by T.J. McDonald when he underthrew Enunwa. Before that, Darnold overthrew an open Anderson down the left sideline.

“We didn’t come to play,” Adams said. “We didn’t finish the ballgame. And it’s the same, same, same stuff. It’s frustrating. I’m not going to hold my tongue for anything anymore. Enough is enough. I’m not a loser. We’re going to figure it out. We’ve got to figure it out some way, somehow.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.