Thanks to aerial and ground antics from unrelated Wilsons, the Aaron Rodgers-less Jets are keeping pace with the Cowboys
Flying has been a struggle, but the New York Jets continue to linger in a relative holding pattern with some major names missing long-term action.
Both aerial and ground antics from Zach Wilson have kept the New York Jets alive, as the newly-reinstalled quarterback has tallied 130 yards of total offense in what stands as an 18-10 deficit to the Dallas Cowboys at halftime. Dak Prescott has two scores for Dallas, finding tight ends Jake Ferguson and Like Schoonmaker in the red zone.
Jets (10)
PASSING: Zach Wilson (5-of-10, 94 yards, 1 TD)
RUSHING: Zach Wilson (5 carries, 36 yards)
RECEIVING: Garrett Wilson (1 rec. 68 yards, 1 TD)
Cowboys (18)
PASSING: Dak Prescott (21-of-26, 165 yards, 2 TD)
RUSHING: Tony Pollard (10 carries, 23 yards)
RECEIVING: CeeDee Lamb (7 rec., 106 yards)
Go Fourth
No matter what happens, Jets fans can at least hope that head coach Robert Saleh plays the rest of the non-Aaron Rodgers slate … however long that is … with the sense of healthy reckless abandon that was on display when he opted to go for it on fourth down inside his own 20, directly snapping it to Ashtyn Davis to temporarily keep a drive alive. The Jets are down, but certainly not out thanks to the pieces that Joe Douglas has added. If Saleh’s going to have some fun, even better … it could wind up saving his job down the road.
Jake Ferguson TD!
The @DallasCowboys' hot start to the season continues.
📺: #NYJvsDAL on CBS⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/IjGYRudORV
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
Prescott’s Pressure
After a relatively quiet performance in last week’s shellacking of the Giants, the offensive playcalling tandem of Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy has had to take on larger responsibilities. Save for a dropped pick-six by Sauce Gardner (one that could’ve given the Jets the lead), Prescott has made good decisions early on, playing it safe in dink-and-dunk fashion that has relied on Lamb’s ability to run after the catch and the red zone efforts of tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker.
WILSON TO WILSON FOR 68 YARDS @ZachWilson | @GarrettWilson_V
📺: #NYJvsDAL on CBS⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/4tVpCFAKbT
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
Kid’s With the Hall
It was widely expected that Breece Hall would take on a larger responsibility with Aaron Rodgers down, but Zach Wilson impressively took over the Jets’ ground game in the final stages. Upon his demotion and medically-induced re-hire, Wilson has one major task: don’t be the reason why the Jets falter. Unlike far too many occasions last season, Wilson has kept the team afloat in the early going: finding his fellow Wilson between two defenders for a long score was impressive enough but a flurry of rushes on the final possession allowed the Jets to go into the locker with a mere one-deficit possession. A major opportunity lies ahead for Wilson and Co., as they’ll start the second half with the ball.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
