EAST RUTHERFORD – When the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around in April, this will be the kind of game that Jets fans will be happy they didn’t win. That doesn’t make Sunday afternoon’s 28-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium any easier to take now. Gang Green seemingly found yet another way to lose, allowing a late touchdown to struggling sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson on the last defensive drive of the game to thwart what was shaping up to be a nice comeback win. Instead, any mathematical hopes of a postseason berth are essentially gone — not that thoughts of that happening prior to their latest setback were realistic to begin with — and now there’s six games left where the Jets will once again play the familiar playoff spoiler role they’ve become accustomed to in what’s now a 14-year postseason drought. “True strength is demonstrated in these moments where adversity really hits,” said interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. “It’s hitting us. From a football perspective, this is one of the higher levels of adversity you’ll ever face. It’s an opportunity to not let your situation define who you are, and to show the world who you are in these really tough moments, show your teammates who you are in these really tough moments…there’s still a lot of pride in that locker room, and guys are still going to fight, I know that.” To be fair, the Jets showed plenty of fight after an embarrassing start; their first five drives didn’t yield a first down, and they didn’t get one at all until the first play after the two-minute warning, allowing the Colts to get out to an early 13-0 lead. But, Breece Hall’s 29-yard touchdown reception on a third down checkdown from Aaron Rodgers sparked the team, and a strip sack of Richardson by Jamien Sherwood and subsequent recovery by Javon Kinlaw kept it going, ultimately leading to another Hall score to give the Jets an unlikely lead. New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) In the end, the teams would swap the lead two more times — Rodgers connected with seldom-targeted tight end Kenny Yeboah to put the Jets up 24-16 early in the fourth quarter, but the once-stout defense faded late; Richardson found Josh Downs open for a ten-yard touchdown pass to cut the Colts deficit to 24-22 on the ensuing drive, and Jets kicker Anders Carlson’s 35-yard field goal with 2:41 left in regulation turned out to not be enough insurance. Richardson, who was inserted back into the starting lineup after being benched the last two weeks, marched his team efficiently down the field on Indy’s final possession for 70 yards on six plays, and ran it in himself with just 46 seconds left on the clock to give his team a leaf they wouldn’t relinquish. Rodgers and the Jets had one last chance, but a potential Hail Mary attempt on the last play of the game was thwarted by a sack, ending their chances for a miraculous comeback. A sullen Rodgers, clearly disappointed with both the way the game went and the season has gone, said he’ll be able to stay motivated for the rest of the year despite it essentially being over before it could ever get started. “I’m in my 20th year,” he said. “I’ve figured out a way to do this for a long time, so I just have to remember why I fell in love with this game. This week will definitely be one to clear our heads and come back and stick together.” Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)