Jets Use All Ends Of Age Spectrum To Escape With Much-Needed Win Over Titans

That's Why They Brought 'Em Here

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Sometimes, new blood can rejuvenate a franchise, so long as it fits the body. Even if one source is recycled.

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back Braelon Allen are, respectively, the NFL’s oldest and youngest players this season. But considering Rodgers only played four snaps before rupturing his Achilles in the 2023 opener, I guess both he and Allen, a fourth-round pick in April’s NFL Draft, can both be deemed “new blood” to this Jets squad that had been desperate for injections to rectify a stale and putrid offense.    

On Sunday, there were several tense moments during New York’s 24-17 escape from Tennessee where I turned to my son Sam and said, “That’s why they got him!” after a big play, none bigger than Allen’s game-winning 20-yard touchdown run with 4:31 remaining.

Allen, just 20, barely saw any action outside of garbage time in the Jets opener, a 32-19 defeat at San Francisco on Monday night. Yet from the moment he relieved starter Breece Hall in the second quarter, he put his imprint on a game where the Jets had been stuck in mud on both sides of the ball.  

The Titans were continuing the pattern from New York’s disappointing Week 1 performance, where the Jets were getting gashed by the opposition’s rushing attack and the offensive game-plan was, well, offensive to the viewing public’s eyes. Another egg-laying would have put all kinds of pressure on the team in advance of Thursday night’s home opener versus New England.

Fortunately, after a second consecutive turnover by Titans QB Will Levis, New York marched 73 yards on 12 plays to tie a game they had no business being in at 7-7. Allen finished it off from the 12-yard line by taking a well-designed play out of a two-back set that had Rodgers faking a screen right to Hall before coming back to Allen with a flip to the left. He became the youngest player to score from scrimmage in 94 years.

It was Allen’s skillset in the passing game that intrigued Jets General Manager Joe Douglas at the Draft despite his modest 49 receptions for 275 yards and zero touchdowns during his three-year collegiate career at Wisconsin. Besides showing reliable hands during the preseason, Allen seemed to understand and did not shy away from blitz pickup assignments.

And yes, he proved on Sunday he can do the primary task of a running back—carry the football. He may not be the quickest on cuts to the hole, but he is tough to bring down when he turns upfield and always seems to fall forward. It’s why I considered mentioning in my last post (oh well) how Allen, not Hall, who keeps getting stuffed on short-yardage opportunities, should be the team’s back in those situations. On Allen’s touchdown run, he burst off right tackle and no one was catching him before he hit paydirt.

That last drive also reminded Jets fans why this season will go only as far as Rodgers, who turns 41 in December (Allen was 1 when Rodgers was drafted by Green Bay in 2005), goes. In the clutch, the future Hall-of-Famer went 5-for-5 for 60 yards, converting a third-and-one with a 26-yard dime down the right sideline to Garrett Wilson over Tennessee’s highly-paid cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and then going to the other side with a perfectly placed ball to Mike Williams to pick up a second-and-16. The latter play was one I had been waiting on rather impatiently, for the Jets kept insisting that Williams, a contested catch machine whom the Jets signed to much fanfare in free agency, was recovered from last season’s ACL injury only to keep him under wraps. Yup, THAT was why they brought him here.   

Rodgers’ numbers (18-for-30, 176 yards and two touchdowns) on Sunday look rather pedestrian, but the Jets don’t win this game with any of the abominable QBs from last season. No, he’s no longer nimble moving around in the pocket and his casual nature with regard to the play clock that forced Head Coach Robert Saleh to burn three timeouts unnecessarily was distressing, but the arm talent is still there. His 26-yard touchdown strike to Hall on the second half’s opening possession was a thing of beauty. As long as New York’s offensive line can provide a fair amount of protection, he can be counted on to get the ball out on time and to where his receivers have a chance to make a play on a fairly consistent basis.

The bottom line is that in a game they had to have, the Jets scored three offensive touchdowns for a second consecutive week, a feat they accomplished twice all last season. With the defense banged up with injuries to key players at all three levels (Hello, Haason Reddick?), Gang Green isn’t going to be able to get by with mere game management from their offense. No, they’re going to need production throughout their lengthy age spectrum.