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
Andre Cisco cracked Zach Wilson! Wilson didn't see it coming! pic.twitter.com/rfF9yMTBMI
— 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 @𝗙𝗧𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱𝟳 (@FTBeard7) December 23, 2022
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
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Even in the very worst of times for the Jets I’ve never seen a team come out and look so disinterested and flat from 1-52 with Streveler coming in and walking up the offense at least.
It became apparent he dosent have even near the arm for the NFL.
He had Conklin for a TD which might have made a game of it.
Let’s say Mike White is the QB next year. Both he and ZW aren’t the biggest guys.
If that happens Streveler should be the 3rd QB coming in for 3rd or 4tf and 1 or 2 and he can bulldoze his way for a 1st down.
We saw tge trouble the Jets had near the goal with Mike White in there.
Bringing Steveler in works. He has a valuable place in football..just not as a thrower
I know he’s been bad, but I don’t think you boo your QB in the first quarter under these conditions. I hope the Jets bring in a decent option at QB next year, but don’t trade low on him. He’s had poor coaching, no run game, and a terrible OL. Two of his terrible games were under awful wind conditions. Trevor threw for 229, but what was his aDot? He didn’t have to sling it on 2nd and 17 and 3rd and 21 situations.
The thing is what kills him is White played with the same players around him, got killed but moved the team down the field.
One issue with White is his size trying to get that one yard on a sneak.
This is where Streveler comes in as the 3rd QB.
If Saleh is still here he needs to get his head in the game and there needs to be a “Streveler package” which would consist of getting those short 3rd and 4th down pickups and some option plays to help the run game.
Finally, the draft needs to be OL S and LB.
I don’t think one Jet can hold thier head up.
At 10-3 and a couple of punts they ALL mailed it in.
As mentioned in the article, ZW is done as a Jet. It’s beyond obvious I s the rest of the team feels ots not worth busting thier ass (being professional) with Zack Wilson under center.
They didn’t need to embarrass themselves to get Zack gone. After tonight there’s no coming back.