The New York Jets nearly lost it all before winning at the last moment
A Festivus miracle came one day late for the New York Jets.
The Jets simultaneously succumbed to and withstood a Washington Commanders comeback from three possessions down in their final home game of the 2023 season. A Greg Zuerlein field goal allowed them to escape from MetLife Stadium with a 30-28 victory. New York led by as much as 20 in the opening half, thanks to a 17-0 lead after the first quarter built by touchdowns for Jason Brownlee and Breece Hall.
Jason Brownlee for the TD 😤
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/lY6HNZRdzU
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 24, 2023
After scoring one first-quarter touchdown through 14 games, both the Jets’ scores in the opening period were set up by defensive heroics. Brownlee’s tally was set up by Jermaine Johnson‘s block of a Tress Way punt, shortly after Tony Adams intercepted a Sam Howell pass on the second play from scrimmage.
Tony Adams with the tip drill pick!
(via @nyjets) pic.twitter.com/mZ6jQckniq
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 24, 2023
JERMAINE JOHNSON FLIES IN TO BLOCK THE PUNT
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/W4b9WFFDEW
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 24, 2023
After another Way punt, Hall broke loose for his first score of the day, a 36-yard breakout that ensured it would be anything but a silent night in East Rutherford.
BREECE HALL 36-YARD HOUSE CALL pic.twitter.com/TjmnKoOUVE
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) December 24, 2023
Washington (4-11) finally got on the scoreboard thanks to another player making his maiden end zone voyage, rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. Hall, however, had a second effort score on New York’s last full drive of the half, as his acrobatic body-control touchdown made it 27-7 at halftime.
The rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. would not go down 😤
📺: #WASvsNYJ on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/UIg1XAjsX3 pic.twitter.com/T8lL2aKqDU— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
Goodness, what a finish by Breece Hall. 27-7 #Jets with the first half winding down. pic.twitter.com/MC7hJWg7Rc
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) December 24, 2023
Gang Green seemed well on pace to keep things rolling, especially when Quincy Williams forced Howell into another aerial turnover.
QUINCY WILLIAMS SHOULD BE A PRO BOWLER.#ProBowlVote | @quincywilliams_#WASvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/sRsodci1wU
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 24, 2023
But Washington commenced a nightmare before Christmas by erasing the Jets’ strong field position with a Cody Barton interception. With Jacoby Brissett in the game for Howell, the Commanders needed only six plays to capitalize, as Logan Thomas earned a 15-yard score through the air.
https://twitter.com/Commanders/status/1739021019069681746
Brissett hits Logan Thomas for the TD! Well thrown ball pic.twitter.com/ifQAz13OdL
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) December 24, 2023
With the Jets’ offense back to its sputtering ways, the Commanders lowered the gap to one possession on another Rodriguez punch-in from a yard away.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. scores his second touchdown of the game and his career. pic.twitter.com/dcBjQkg6g6
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) December 24, 2023
The Commanders’ comeback was complete with an 83-yard drive that took a mere six plays, the last being another rushing punch-in, this one for Antonio Gibson.
Antonio Gibson Rushing TD (1) pic.twitter.com/w6Gd0u11h9
— NFL TD Videos (@NFLTDVideos2023) December 24, 2023
But New York secured the thriller in shocking fashion, going 31 yards in eight plays, capped off by Zuerlein’s triple from 54 away.
#PROBOWLVOTE | GREG ZUERLEIN#WASvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/JHESnP7DD8
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 24, 2023
The Jets will play their penultimate game of the 2023-24 season on Thursday when they face the surging Cleveland Browns (8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
