Zach Wilson got off to a hot start but the Jets were unable to keep the pace
- New York Jets 18 (3-9)
- Philadelphia Eagles 33 (6-7)
- NFL, Week 13, Final, Box Score
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
The more things change in the NFL, the more they stay the same in the New York-Philadelphia matchup.
Behind 418 yards of offense, 245 coming from the arm of backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, the Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) rolled to a 33-18 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
New York (3-9) not only clinched its sixth consecutive losing season but also fell to 0-12 all-time against the Eagles, the only team they have yet to defeat in the regular season.
The Jets enjoyed one of their hottest starts of the season, as Wilson earned touchdowns on each of his first three possessions; his first three scores posted in a first half this season.
Aerial scores to Elijah Moore and Ryan Griffin sandwiched a one-yard punch-in on the ground for the rookie quarterback, who was making his first MetLife Stadium appearance since the Oct. 3 upset win over Tennessee.
The @nyjets rookie connection!
Zach Wilson to Elijah Moore for the TD. #TakeFlight
📺: #PHIvsNYJ on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/WNHaem7vG7— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021
.@ZachWilson takes it himself 💪#PHIvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/p28EYVKOQg
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 5, 2021
.@ZachWilson's third total TD of the first half! #TakeFlight
📺: #PHIvsNYJ on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/MI9ze6hAIH— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021
Alas for the Jets, even the emergence of Wilson couldn’t be met without bad news. Working with their seventh different regular season kicker since the start of the 2019 season, Alex Kessman missed each extra point attempt after the first two touchdowns before the Jets misfired on the two-point try after Wilson’s final score to Griffin.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, capitalized on its opportunities afforded by a porous effort from the Jets’ defense. They likewise earned touchdowns on each of their first trio of possessions, two of which ended with Minshew touchdown passes to Dallas Goedert.
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Rookie Kenneth Gainwell also had a seven-yard rushing score while Jake Elliott converted three singe-point tries and one field to go up 24-18 at the midway mark.
Dallas Goedert dusted CJ Mosley as he catches a long TD from Minshew!
Goedert is a ridiculously good player…#Eaglespic.twitter.com/AQ6LxfReay
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) December 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/BrodesMedia/status/1467563331649216514
Eagles and Jets going back-and-forth.
Kenneth Gainwell gives Philly the lead with an 18-yard TD run. #FlyEaglesFly
📺: #PHIvsNYJ on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/VGO8QJRY6J— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021
But the Jets were unable to transfer some surprising good vibes over into the second half.
They only earned 73 downs on their first three second-half possessions, the latter pair of which ended in a turnover on down and a Marcus Epps interception.
Zach Wilson with a beautiful completion to Marcus Epps!
pic.twitter.com/vV0uoEwxnD— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) December 5, 2021
Offensively, the Eagles sealed the deal with a trio of Jake Elliott field goals that came from 32, 43, and 46 yards out. The Jets allowed 418 yards of offense, allowing over 400 for the third time this season.
They mustered only a single sack of Minshew, coming from the hands of Elijah Riley. This comes after the Jets allowed a season-best 266 yards and earned five quarterback takedowns in last week’s win over Houston.
New York returns to action next Sunday afternoon against the New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
