The New York Jets got exactly what they needed on Sunday: a win.

Little about it was pretty. The offense was as messy as the weather, but a win is a win, and for now, it stands as the most important victory New York has had under head coach Aaron Glenn.

One of the main reasons Gang Green came out on top, though, was the strong play from several under-the-radar guys. These two players stick out as the Jets’ top unsung heroes in the win.

DT Darrell Jackson Jr.

Darrell Jackson Jr., a fourth-round rookie, stepped up in a big way for the Jets in the fourth quarter on Sunday.

In the fourth quarter, while the Jets led 10-6, Jackson made back-to-back pass deflections at the line of scrimmage to disrupt the Browns’ operation. Later, with 2:54 left in the fourth and the Jets up 17-12, he and Kingsley Enagabre brought Deshaun Watson to the ground for a first-down sack as Cleveland worked toward midfield.

Those were huge plays in a tight game. Situations like that can ultimately be the difference between a win and a loss. Sunday was easily the best game of Jackson’s early NFL career.

The Jets’ pass rush as a whole stood out, generating eight total sacks, the most by any NFL team this season after not logging one last week. David Bailey will understandably get all the love for his incredible three-sack outing, but players like Jackson also contributed significantly up front.

Jackson is a fourth-round rookie five games into his NFL career. If he could remain an impactful, rotational defensive tackle this year, that is a huge win for a Day 3 pick.

With David Onyemata out for a significant amount of time due to a groin injury, Jackson has a path to emerge as a valuable contributor in the defensive tackle rotation.

Jackson played 29 defensive snaps against the Browns (42%). Despite that limited workload, he still had a huge hand in three of the Jets’ top defensive plays down the stretch. That’s a strong case for more playing time. With starter Harrison Phillips having a rough start to the year, perhaps Jackson can start to cut into his reps.

Jackson’s sequence of back-to-back pass deflections was an impressive display for a player at his position. An interior defensive lineman like Jackson, who is 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, isn’t always going to get home. Being able to affect the passing game without reaching the opposing QB is an effective way to consistently impact the game from the inside.

Without a doubt, Jackson’s plays down the stretch against the Browns make him an unsung hero.

WR Tim Patrick

In his first game as a Jet after beginning the year on injured reserve, Tim Patrick made a difference for New York. With Omar Cooper Jr. and Adonai Mitchell still out, getting Patrick back in the WR room was valuable.

On Sunday, Patrick was thrust into a rather significant role right away, playing 65 snaps, tied with Garrett Wilson for the most among the Jets’ WRs. By the end of the day, Patrick, Wilson, and Williams were the only WRs Gang Green trotted out on offense during the Week 5 win, save for Malik McClain being on the field for two kneeldowns.

Patrick hauled in two of his three targets for 26 yards, but his impact came as a blocker, not a pass-catcher.

One of his biggest contributions came on Braelon Allen’s 22-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, which helped the Jets regain their lead. It ultimately became the game-winning TD.

Lined up outside, Patrick crashed inside once the ball was snapped and delivered a beautiful crack block on Grant Delpit, freeing Allen on the outside. The block also forced Delpit to crash into Tyson Campbell, who fell to the ground as the play developed.

That’s the definition of an impactful play that won’t show up in the box score or any metric. It’s purely in the film, and it played a huge role in that TD.

Patrick’s other notable play came in the third quarter, and this one was arguably just as important. With the Jets leading 7-6, facing first-and-10 from their own 46-yard line with 13:17 left in the quarter, Allen lost the football after Armand Membou got beat and Quincy Williams punched it loose.

Patrick got beat on his own blocking assignment, too, but the biggest thing here is how he rebounded. Despite a sea of Browns defenders, Patrick rallied to the loose ball and fell on it, allowing the Jets to retain possession.

Consider the situation. The Jets were protecting a one-point lead in a game where points were extremely difficult to come by. Had Cleveland recovered, the Browns would’ve taken over near midfield with a chance to completely shift the momentum of the game.

Instead, though, Patrick’s recovery prevented a potentially game-changing play. That’s the value of having an experienced, big-bodied, physical run-blocker like Patrick on the roster. The Jets’ receiver core is very young and, aside from Wilson, unestablished. Given that, getting a stable depth piece like Patrick in the building, who impacts the game beyond just catching passes, is super valuable.

In his first game as a Jet, the 32-year-old made a significant impact at two turning points in Sunday’s game, which led to a crucial win. He certainly deserves more credit for that. Even though he didn’t reel in a crazy amount of yards or receptions, he contributed to the game in subtle ways.

Even without Adonai Mitchell, the Jets have Wilson, plus tight ends Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq, to carry the load in the pass-catching department. The Jets’ other WRs, though, can’t replicate Patrick’s run-blocking ability.

Overall, Patrick deserves kudos for his role in New York’s Week 5 win.