The Jets’ playoff hopes were literally washed away on Thursday at MetLife Stadium
At least the New York Jets remembered to use their timeouts this time.
The Jets’ 2022-23 playoff hopes likely washed away on a rainy night at MetLife Stadium, as did, for all intents and purposes, the Zach Wilson era. Completing 9-of-18 for 92 yards and an interception, Wilson failed to go the distance in the Jets’ 19-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday. Firmly establishing themselves in the thick of the AFC playoff chase, the Jaguars (7-8) are 4-2 in their past six and sit a half-game behind Tennessee for first place in the AFC South.
New York (7-8) got off to a good start on Thursday, stifling Lawrence’s torrid pace when Quinnen Williams, back from injury, forced a fumble from him that was recovered by Carl Lawson. An Andre Cisco sack shut down further progress but the Jets took an early lead through a Greg Zuerlein field goal. Passing sensation Trevor Lawrence put up 280 yards of offense and scored the Jaguars’ only touchdown on the ground, the rest of the points earned via Riley Patterson field goals.
FORGET PRO BOWL, HE'S ALL-PRO
WELCOME BACK @QuinnenWilliams!!#JAXvsNYJ on Prime pic.twitter.com/qVQL3dOwcf
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 23, 2022
https://twitter.com/FTBeard7/status/1606097950865620992
After the Jaguars tied the game on Patterson’s first triple, the Jets offense headlined by Wilson struggled to move the ball from there on out. Forced into a punt on their second possession, the Jets saw their hopes unofficially vanish when the Jaguars went on a 96-yard drive where nine of the 16 plays earned either a first down or the touchdown on the last, which featured a one-yard Lawrence punch-in that put Jacksonville ahead for good.
Trevor Lawrence out here making Travis Etienne owners livid 🥵 pic.twitter.com/FItSamghE1
— Jared Block (@jaredrblock) December 23, 2022
With the offense led by an increasingly desperate Wilson, the Jets failed to move the ball anywhere near the end zone. Their lone opportunity came when Patterson failed to boost a 13-3 halftime lead before the break, but Wilson’s deep ball was intercepted by Devin Lloyd.
Jaguars rookie LB Devin Lloyd with his third interception of the season.
It doesn’t get much easier than this for the first-round pick with Zach Wilson throwing it right to him on TNF. A little Holy War action between the former Utah Ute and BYU Cougar. pic.twitter.com/pUmX9Vwlxa
— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) December 23, 2022
With the Jets still struggling to move the ball, the team finally acquiesced to fan requests to insert summer hero Chris Streveler in the third quarter. Streveler moved the ball a bit for the Jets but his first two possessions ended in a failed fourth down deep in Jacksonville territory and a Garrett Wilson fumble, one close enough to the end zone to run a conservative drive that allowed Patterson to kick his second field goal of the half.
Foye forces it out, Herndon recovers!#JAXvsNYJ on @PrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/AGZ62J5zqn
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 23, 2022
The Jets return to action on New Year’s Day when they take on the Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
