Jets' failed fourth-down gamble proves pivotal in 23-10 loss to Ravens

BALTIMORE (AP) — With his New York Jets playing surprisingly well against the heavily favored Baltimore Ravens, first-year coach Aaron Glenn had no desire to play it safe on a fourth-down play in his own territory.

There might be a time in the future when a similar roll-the-dice decision pays off for the fiery coach. On Sunday, his gutsy third-quarter call misfired miserably.

Glenn kept his offense on the field with the Jets down 10-7 and facing a fourth-and-2 from their own 42. Tyrod Taylor fired an incomplete pass to a tightly covered John Metchie and the Ravens turned the failed gamble into the pivotal touchdown in a 23-10 victory Sunday.

Afterward, Glenn acknowledged that his decision to go for it was risky. But it's likely he would do it again if put in the same scenario.

“I thought our offense was doing a solid job. I thought Tyrod was doing a solid job,” he explained. “So I want to be aggressive. I want to go on that — and we didn’t make it.”

The Jets were 10 for 20 on fourth down coming into this game. They went 0 for 2 against the Ravens, missing in the third quarter and in the waning minutes.

Glenn knows the first botched try was far more important than the last.

“I trust our guys to go make those,” he said. “And that was a situation when I wanted our guys to not blink and get ready to go. And we didn’t make it.”

Maybe it was the wrong call. But when you're 2-8 and looking for a bright spot in a dismal season, perhaps you take a chance and hope for the best.

“Definitely disappointed that it didn’t work out. It’s a concept that we like, we just didn’t execute it,” Taylor said “They did a great job of taking away the inside route. We just didn’t execute and that was a key play in this game.”

The Jets (2-9) came in as 13 1/2-point underdogs, but they dominated the first half and took a 7-3 lead into the locker room after limiting a potent offense featuring Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry to a mere 72 yards.

Baltimore scored a touchdown on its first possession of the third quarter, then scored again after the Jets went four-and-out during that key sequence that ended with Taylor's incomplete pass to Metchie.

New York was still in the game until Breece Hall lost a fumble at the Baltimore 3 with 6:51 remaining and the score 20-10.

“It definitely stings. I hate losing,” Taylor said. “We've just got to be efficient consistently, consistently going out there and doing the right things, I think we took a step in that direction today. We just didn’t finish it.”

The Jets are already assured of their 10th consecutive losing season. But Glenn is absolutely certain good times lie ahead.

“We don’t want to be 2 and 9, you know, but I do understand this: There are some things that we’re doing, some underlying things that we’re doing, some foundational things that we’re doing that I am excited about,” he said. “We just got to make sure now the record catches up with those things that we’re building.”

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Baltimore Ravens linebacker Mike Green (45) tackles New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) is pressured by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

TOKYO (AP) — Many of Tokyo's popular and iconic Somei Yoshino cherry blossom trees were planted during Japan's postwar advancement in the 1960s, and are now getting old and frail.

Some have fallen and many others require support, triggering safety concern as the Japanese celebrate the season of their favorite flower.

Two cherry blossom trees collapsed on Thursday, one at Kinuta Park in downtown Tokyo and the other at the Chidorigafuchi greenway. The one in Kinuta Park damaged a fence while the other tree almost fell into the Imperial Palace moat, though nobody was injured.

The tree in Kinuta Park was 18 meters (59 feet) tall and 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in diameter. It was among the oldest, believed to be more than 60 years old, officials said. In March, another old cherry tree collapsed at the park, injuring a passerby.

Last year, 85 trees fell in Tokyo parks, injuring three people, and many were cherry trees, according to Masakazu Noguchi, a Tokyo metropolitan official in charge of public parks.

People gather under the trees during the season of hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, and the collapse of trees has alarmed officials in Tokyo, the birthplace of the cherry blossom variety.

Tokyo assembly member Yutaka Kazama expressed concern on social media last month that“cherry blossom trees with their roots partially exposed or obviously rotten seem dangerous," calling for firm safety measures but without quickly resorting to tree felling.

Aging and erosion by internal fungus growth are among the main causes for the deterioration of the cherry blossom trees.

A tree doctor, Hiroyuki Wada, said heavy tilting, flowering on lower trunks and mushrooms growing at the bottom are signs to look for in order to avoid risk-prone trees. Risks increase when tree trunks retain water after rain, he said.

“Many trees in our daily lives were planted soon after the war and are now 70-80 years old and getting weaker," he said, adding that they are affected by extreme heat in the summer and an extensive dry season.

“I hope people think about the climate change through what's happening to the cherry blossom trees, which is very symbolic,” he said.

Following the March incidents, officials conducted tree health checks at Tokyo's main parks ahead of the cherry blossom viewing season.

At the Kinuta Park, officials have conducted preliminary inspections of more than 800 cherry trees. They chopped down a number of trees and posted warning signs near some trees but the tree that fell Thursday was without caution signs.

“At the moment, our measures are mostly temporary, not fundamental steps such as replanting,” Noguchi said. “We call on visitors to use caution because we cannot say it’s safe even after inspection.”

At the Inokashira Park, one of Tokyo’s most popular viewing spots, dozens of aging cherry blossom trees have been felled in recent years as part of a long-term replanting plan. Some people lamented on social media the empty spaces around a pond that used to be seamlessly encircled by flowering pink blossoms.

Cherry blossom viewers say the news of falling cherry trees is worrisome, but they didn't want to miss the short-lived fluffy pink blossoms.

“I'm a bit worried, but I guess it's OK if we stay away from tree trunks,” said Lisa Suzuki.

Another visitor Akira Kamiyashiki said he came with his daughter despite the safety concerns because rain is expected over the weekend. “Seeing the keep-off signs, I now feel safe,” he said.

Cherry blossoms, or “sakura,” are Japan’s favorite flower and usually reach their peak in late March to early April, just as the country celebrates the start of a new school and business year. Many Japanese enjoy walking or picnicking under the trees.

A fallen cherry trees is seen at the Inokashira Park, one of Tokyo’s most popular viewing spots, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi)

People walk past an aging cherry blossom tree at the Inokashira Park, one of Tokyo’s most popular viewing spots, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi)

An aging cherry blossom tree is seen at the Inokashira Park, one of Tokyo’s most popular viewing spots, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi)

People sit down for a picnic outside a cordoned-off area set up to inspect the health of cherry blossom trees at Kinuta Park in Tokyo, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mayuko Ono)

People sit down for a picnic outside a cordoned-off area set up to inspect the health of cherry blossom trees at Kinuta Park in Tokyo, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mayuko Ono)

A damaged cherry blossom tree is seen after a nearby tree fell on it, at Kinuta Park in Tokyo, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Mayuko Ono)