Zach Wilson shows signs of life in first New York Jets victory
- New York Jets 27 (1-3)
- Tennessee Titans 24 (2-2)
- NFL, Week 4, Final, OT, Box Score
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Behind a strong defensive effort that earned seven sacks and two touchdown passes from Zach Wilson, the New York Jets captured a 27-24 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
Wilson threw for 297 yards as he helped the Jets erase an early nine-point deficit while the team withstood a 157-yard rushing effort from star Titans rusher Derrick Henry.
The first half saw the New York Jets‘ offense force the defense into more awkwardness. They opened the game on a three-yard three-and-out, and Wilson tallied his eighth interception of the year when Corey Davis tripped on a route, allowing Kristian Fulton to take advantage.
Gang Green’s defense rose to the occasion, picking up four sacks over the first half-hour. Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley each earned their first takedowns as Jets, while John Franklin-Myers had his third of the year.
BOOM 🔨🔨🔨 @quincywilliams_#TENvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/JYG64CQLGM
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 3, 2021
The big John Franklin-Myers sack … credit the coverage and JFM fighting through a late release. #Jets pic.twitter.com/XgEAtH5GiK
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) October 3, 2021
Though the Titans scored on each of their three trips in the red zone in the first half, the Jets earned their first rushing touchdown of the season on a two-yard punch-in by rookie Michael Carter, who likewise earned the first six-pointer of his career.
Michael Carter punches it in for his first NFL TD! #TakeFlight
📺: #TENvsNYJ on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/V2uqj1MxQw— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2021
The Jets took their long-sought first lead of the season in the dying stages of the third quarter via a short 27-yard triple by Matt Amendola. That tally came after a 54-yard hook-up between Wilson and Keelan Cole.
Zach Wilson launches a deep ball and the #Jets offense finally has a big play. Keelan Cole on the receiving end. They've been waiting for this. #TENvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/SKeKLZMkdQ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 3, 2021
With the Titans trailing, the game soon became a furious offensive rally over the final frame, headlined by constant hand-off and opportunities for renowned rusher Derrick Henry.
He would open the quarter on a physical one-yard tally that gave the Titans the lead back. Ryan Tannehill found MyCole Pruitt on a two-point conversion to create the seven-point margin.
El Tractorcito 🚜 @KingHenry_2
📺: Watch #TENvsNYJ on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/SKykymgHNA
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 3, 2021
But the Jets’ offense retained its momentum and scored touchdowns on consecutive drives that took a combined five plays to pull off.
Jamison Crowder marked his return to a Jets uniform with a three-yard score on a four-play, 77-yard drive aided by 43-yard defensive pass interference call.
Two plays prior, Crowder helped Wilson recover from a fumbled snap with a 29-yard gain.
Off script play? No problem, Zach Wilson to Jamison Crowder.
ALL DAY, EVERY DAY! #Jets #TakeFlight #TENvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/DZMp1QB6cF
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) October 3, 2021
JAMISON CROWDER TD AND IT'S A TIE GAME❗
(Via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/IA6G0rWA5j
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 3, 2021
After forcing the Titans into a three-and-out, the Jets needed only a single play to take the lead.
Wilson’s 53-yard launch found former Titan Corey Davis for six, delivering revenge in the sweetest way possible.
Zach Wilson with a BOMB to Corey Davis for the TD. Revenge game for Davis and the #Jets take the lead. pic.twitter.com/fKh4xWDTRN
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 3, 2021
A Tennessee drive fizzled out at the Jets’ 21, but the Titans forced the Jets to give them the ball back despite using all their timeouts and Carter getting a first down.
It took the Titans less than two minutes to pull off an 11-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a two-yard scoring pass to Cameron Batson.
Tennessee’s tying drive was kept alive by a 22-yard pass interference penalty called on Jarrod Wilson.
Tannehill hits Cameron Batson and the Titans tie it up 👀
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/imnPMC7pAk— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 3, 2021
As the tying play came with 19 seconds left, the Jets opted to kneel on their subsequent possession, allowing the game to go to overtime. It marked their first overtime game since a December 2018 home loss to Green Bay.
Winners of the coin toss, the Jets capitalized with a 13-play, 71-yard drive that reached the cusp of the end zone.
Though the Jets failed to punch in the clincher, they did earn the lead through a 22-yard Ammendola field goal. The drive was highlighted by a 29-yard hook-up between Wilson and Keelan Cole.
PERFECT THROW 😳
Zach Wilson to Keelan Cole for 29 yardspic.twitter.com/nAiNaIBrk1
— Jets Nation (@JetsNationCP) October 3, 2021
It took nearly every final second for the Jets to secure their victory, but East Rutherford earned its cheers when Randy Bullock missed a 49-yard field with 15 seconds remaining.
It gave the Jets their first win of the year and first since last December.
Randy Bullock misses the 49-yard FG in overtime to secure the loss. #ObscureExBengals #FatRandy https://t.co/TpqcN2iAi5
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) October 3, 2021
Following their triumph over the Titans, the Jets will look to ignite a streak when they head overseas to battle the Atlanta Falcons in London next Sunday (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
