The New York Jets pulled out one of the ugliest games in NFL history against the New York Giants
The New York #Jets improve to 4-3 with a 13-10 OT victory over the New York Giants, in what was one of the strangest, most befuddling games you'll ever watch. pic.twitter.com/RmGhF23swo
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) October 29, 2023
Tommy Wiseau himself couldn’t have conjured up a “so bad it’s good” masterpiece than what transpired between the New York Jets and New York Giants on Sunday.
The ugliest game yielded the most beautiful feelings for the Jets (4-3), as they took an ugly decision from the Giants, 13-10.
The first quarter would’ve been almost completely bereft of highlights if not for Kayvon Thibodeaux’s sack of Zach Wilson, one that forced a fumble from Wilson that he recovered in prime scoring territory. Big Blue’s struggling offense could only muster a short Graham Gano field goal to go up 3-0.
Who’s a bust? Not Kayvon Thibodeaux that’s for sure.#NYGiants #NYG #Giants pic.twitter.com/eT1jCuxKRv
— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) October 29, 2023
The Jets’ lone offensive highlight felt like it would be enough: after six consecutive punts, Breece Hall went 50 yards on a throw from Zach Wilson to put the Jets ahead 7-3, a lead that proved sustainable at least through the halftime break.
Breece Hall is too dangerous in the open field. Touchdown Jets 🙌
📺: #NYJvsNYG on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/n49QB1tZYg— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023
The story of the first half, though, was injuries. The Jets lost Al Woods for the season with a torn Achilles, center Connor McGovern with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, and backup center Wes Schweitzer. That left Xavier Newman as their lone center — a player who had a grand total of one game at center in college and 20 snaps there in the preseason.
On the Giants side, Tyrod Taylor left the game with a rib injury, and Darren Waller was ruled out early with a hamstring.
The Giants broke through the offensive ineptitude on the opening drive of the second half, which saw them go 75 yards in 11 plays sustained almost entirely by Saquon Barkley’s runs with the exception of the closer, a six-yard score for Tommy DeVito, in for an injured Tyrod Taylor. That scoring was kept alive by an unnecessary roughness penalty against Jermaine Johnson that would’ve forced a field goal rather than DeVito’s fateful six-pointer.
Jermaine Johnson bails out the Giants on 3rd down — late hit after forward motion was stopped, ticky tacky but they're calling this these days #NYG pic.twitter.com/MCjcoznCza
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) October 29, 2023
DON BOSCO'S TOMMY DEVITO WALTZES IN FOR THE TD!!!!!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/Q5xVGEiJcX
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 29, 2023
Puntapalooza continued after the score, as eight drives ended with a kick. The Jets broke the streak with a turnover on downs and, with two timeouts to their name, it seemed like the Giants had a chance to run out the clock.
But the Jets’ defense afforded the Giants afforded only nine hards on the first three plays and the hosts opted to kick a short field goal with circa 20 seconds remaining. But Graham Gano’s miss, combined with consecutive deep balls to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, allowed him to spike the ball with a second left and get Greg Zuerlein on the field for the tying field goal.
OMFG ZACH WILSON TO ALLEN LAZARD pic.twitter.com/eSBMQbScf4
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) October 29, 2023
The Giants finally allowed DeVito to throw but he was limited to short screens that went nowhere, especially after a 10-yard holding penalty. But the Jets got the ball back and set themselves up for Zuerlein’s winner.
Greg Zuerlein's kick is good and the @nyjets win! #NYJvsNYG pic.twitter.com/4wU8hwYXhY
— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023
Consecutive primetime games now await the Jets, beginning with a Monday night visit from the Los Angeles Chargers (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
My complaints about Zack Wilson hate isn’t that he’s playing great, it’s that he can’t get credit when he does well.
How many times would that last regulation drive result in a tying fg with 24 seconds left.
Same with overtime. Zack played terribly…and the Jets mover the ball down late.
He’s taken it all this year and he’s terrible in the rain but deserves credit for pulling a rabbit out of his hat at the end.