The New York Jets had a nailbiter of a game on Sunday afternoon, but they ultimately dropped a tough one.
In brutal, rainy conditions, the Jets played ugly football all afternoon, losing a stunner to the Denver Broncos, 10-9. With the game resting on Greg Zuerlein’s right foot, he missed a 50-yard field goal that put it in the books for Sean Payton’s crew.
It was an ugly game for New York in multiple facets. Regardless of the result, though, many things need to be fixed for New York before a showdown with former friend Sam Darnold in London.
GZ leads the way with FGs but chokes late
In what felt like a flashback to 2023, kicker Greg Zuerlein led the way for the Jets in terms of scoring.
The reliable veteran notched all nine of the team’s points against the Broncos. He was the primary beneficiary of some sustained drives that faltered inside Denver territory(more on that later). However, the kicker missed on what would have been the decisive score for New York in this one.
It is good that the Jets, under Aaron Rodgers, have a talented offense during most games. They also have a skilled pass defense and run defense that can make some plays.
However, the best teams need significant contributions from their special teams units. Through the season’s first four games, Zuelrien has ensured that New York can rely on their kicking game, but maybe not to the extent they did in previous seasons.
The defense starts strong but struggles late
Early in the game, the Jets’ defense completely stifled the Broncos’ offense. They were all over Denver’s rushing attack in the first and second quarters. Led by Quinnen Williams and Quincy Williams, the Broncos could not make anything work.
Additionally, New York made Bo Nix’s life miserable to start the contest. Between a mix of great pass coverage and Nix’s struggles, the quarterback had negative passing yards at halftime.
However, things changed drastically in the second half. New York started to get gashed in the running game; the Broncos ended up with 126 rushing yards and two running backs who averaged over 4.0 yards per carry.
In the passing game, Nix hit a few big plays and relied on the running game to create consistent drives. He found Cortland Sutton on a busted coverage to give Denver the lead late in the third quarter.
🔟 to 1️⃣4️⃣ 🙌
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/Sh8HtTGeXf
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 29, 2024
It was disappointing to see the Jets’ defense struggle down the stretch against a poor Denver offense. This unit is supposed to be the foundation of the Jets’ roster, but it has contributed to the struggles in a major way.
New York has to regroup quickly in the coming weeks, as they face Minnesota in London and Buffalo on Monday Night Football. The Jets’ resolve will be tested quickly, and if they are not prepared, it will be a disappointing stretch of games.
A rough offensive performance
More so than the defense, the offense was a massive letdown on Sunday.
The rushing attack was a non-factor for most of the game, only mustering 64 total yards. Breece Hall had a rough performance, carrying the ball ten times for four yards. The offensive line was consistently blown off the ball, which allowed Denver to make plays in the backfield. Braelon Allen was the only one who found success, mustering 34 yards on eight carries.
The passing attack hit multiple snags with Aaron Rodgers under center. There were numerous miscommunications between Rodgers and his wideouts, specifically Garrett Wilson. Rodgers himself missed multiple passes that he usually hits.
Worst of all, the offense’s play-calling and personnel usage were brutal. Braelon Allen was inexplicably not used in short-yardage situations for most of the game. Garrett Wilson was rarely schemed open and served as more of a decoy. Very few plays were called to counter the Broncos’ blitzing.
Yes, the weather was abysmal for the majority of the game. However, that is not an excuse for the Jets. This unit is supposed to be more assertive with Aaron Rodgers, but today’s performance was eye-opening for all of the wrong reasons.
Discipline becomes a significant issue
Discipline was a major, major issue for both the Jets’ offense and defense.
New York amassed 13 accepted penalties against the Denver Broncos, with multiple others not being accepted by their opposition. They leaped offsides multiple times, racked up five false starts, and committed many other errors.
At the end of the day, though, this falls on Robert Saleh and his coaching staff. They have promised to “fix” the issue countless times over the four seasons they have been here. They promised that it would not be the case this season with Aaarom Rodgers at the helm of the offense.
Evidently, that is not the case. Until the coaching staff finally fixes its issues or is changed up, they are the Jets’ true Achilles heel and could be the ones to stop New York from having a successful season.
Other notes
- Despite some struggles, Olu Fashnau had some nice pass-blocking reps. On a day when the whole offensive line had massive issues, he offered the most bright spots.
- Jamien Sherwood is still flying around all over the field. He has filled in nicely for C.J. Mosley.
- Chazz Surratt had a few great tackles on defense. He is an excellent depth option for the defense.
- D.J. Reed has been the most consistent cornerback for the Jets so far this season. During the Broncos game, he made multiple plays in coverage and against the run.
