The Jets looked like cheats for suffering an embarrassing loss to the Broncos

Shame on the Jets.

It’s a shame they lost 10-9 to the mediocre and absolutely beatable Broncos at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

The Jets, with Aaron Rodgers, see themselves as competitors this season.

For a playoff spot, their first since 2010.

For an AFC East title, their first since 2002.

And possibly even for a Super Bowl, a first since… well, you know when.

On this day, however, the Jets were cheaters.

And now, as a reward for Sunday’s missed perfect opportunity to get to 3-1 for the first time since 2015, the Jets begin a gauntlet of their schedule – the Vikings, led by Sam Darnold at 4-0, next Week in London, home to the Bills and then to the Steelers.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that at some point after Christmas they will look back on this loss as a flashback that derailed their promising season.

If the Jets are the team they think they are, they will win Sunday’s game. They win the game away. You win it with little stress.

They have Rodgers at quarterback and the Broncos have coachable, often unpredictable rookie Bo Nix.

Shame on the Jets.

“We let it pass,” Rodgers said.

“It’s unacceptable for us to lose this game,” receiver Allen Lazard said.

“Absolutely, this was a game we should win,” cornerback DJ Reed said.

“We played terrible, and when you play terrible, you deserve to lose … and we lost,” receiver Garrett Wilson said. “The rain didn’t help, we were a little off and they knocked us over. Very frustrated. “It feels terrible.”

Too bad for the Jets that they missed this game, even when they were given the ball at their own 40-yard line with 1:27 left after Broncos kicker Wil Lutz made a 50-yard field goal attempt passed the left gate.

Shame on Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein, nicknamed “Greg the Leg” for his long field goal prowess. With the Jets trailing 10-9 and Zuerlein standing over a 50-yard field goal trying to win the game, he shot the ball wide right.

“Really, no excuses,” Zürlein said afterwards. “You just have to do that kick.”

Too bad for the Jets they committed 15 penalties, 13 of which were accepted for a loss of 90 yards.

“We kind of killed each other,” Rodgers said. “We were just… I don’t know, our focus just wasn’t as sharp as it was in the first three weeks.”

It’s a shame for Robert Saleh, who had ten days to prepare for this game and whose team looked unprepared and without discipline.

“It was sloppy, there were a lot of penalties before the snap,” Saleh said. “We have to find out.”

Shame on the Jets’ pass protection, which allowed Rodgers, aka… The Franchise – to endure losses of about 15 hits and five sacks for 41 yards.

Too bad for the Jets’ run defense, which allowed 126 yards on 31 carries and let the Broncos take a 10-9 lead on the go-ahead score – six consecutive running plays by Javonte Williams and no passes.

Shame on the Jets’ pass rush, which produced no sacks in the game and looks like it needs holdout edge rusher Haason Reddick with each passing day. While we’re at it, shame on Jets GM Joe Douglas for overseeing this mess and not fixing it.

Shame on Jets left guard John Simpson, a key offseason addition, for his two false start penalties.

The second point was that the Jets had a fourth-and-goal from the Denver 1-yard line in the second quarter, forcing them to settle for a field goal.

“I think that was a play that could have won the game,” Simpson said. “I have to get better.”

Shame on Jets had Tyron Smith, another of their key offseason signings, targeted for his two penalties – one for holding and another for a false start.

Too bad for Lazard, who had an otherwise moderately productive day catching the ball (5 for 58) and incurring a crucial pass interference penalty in the end zone because he committed three penalties of his own.

Too bad for Rodgers, who missed receivers with a few low throws and still seemed out of sync with Wilson, his most explosive target.

“I can’t say I played a spectacular game,” Rodgers said. “The weather was bad, but some of my throws were bad too.”

Too bad for Jets running back Breece Hall, who had his worst game as a pro, rushing for 4 yards on 10 carries and picking up two false start penalties.

Shame on Wilson for fumbling the ball on the Jets’ third offensive play of the day.

The play didn’t cost the Jets any points because Denver’s offense was challenged, but it set the stage for the team’s sloppy day.

“We just played terrible offensively,” Lazard said. “We had the ball at the 1-yard line and couldn’t get it in. This is not our standard, not our expectations.”

Shame on the Jets.