In a matter of seconds, all playoff aspirations seemed to dissolve as the Jets watched Panthers punt returner Kaelin Clay race down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.
It was the nail in the coffin — for the game, a 35-27 loss at MetLife Stadium, and perhaps the season.
The Jets trailed 26-20 with just under 10 minutes remaining. They were well within striking distance, and the defense had held up well against dynamic Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.
That was when Clay — a wide receiver out of Utah — made his mark. The 25-year-old fielded a punt at the Panthers’ 40, spun around Jets long snapper Thomas Hennessy and broke to the outside.