Not The Hollywood Ending The Jets Hoped For After Wilson’s Picks Set Up Pats Takeover
Linebacker C.J. Mosley was the last Jets defender introduced to a raucous MetLife Stadium crowd prior to Sunday’s game versus bitter AFC East rivals New England. For the first time since 2001, New York entered the matchup with the superior record, giving Jets fans hope that the tide was turning. In a Halloween tribute of sorts, a pumped-up Mosley had a “Bane” mask attached to his face shield.
Um, didn’t Mosley know that Bane always loses to Batman?
In this metaphor, the Patriots are the Caped Crusaders, having taken down the Jets 12 consecutive times dating back to 2015. Sunday’s 22-17 Pats win made it an unlucky 13 for Gang Green, who’s undoing was mostly of their own making.
The irreverent 1960s Batman series episodes were usually two-parters, where it would seem to all like the villains held the upper hand at the halfway point. Similarly, the Jets led, 10-6, going into the intermission. And like in those TV scripts, overconfidence, specifically that of Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, was New York’s fatal flaw. Wilson’s stubbornness when extending plays after the protection breaks down to throw passes into the field of play instead of out of bounds cost him two of his three interceptions on the day. The other was a horrible toss well over the head of his wide open intended target Ty Johnson just a few yards downfield during the second quarter two-minute drill with New York ahead, 10-3.
Instead of the Jets going into halftime up by multiple scores, the Patriots pounced on their mistake and ended up kicking a field goal at the gun (abetted by a horrible roughing the passer penalty on Jets lineman John Franklin-Myers that negated a Michael Carter II pick-six. Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh said he was told by the refs that Franklin-Myers hit Patriots QB Mac Jones “too hard.” It looked like he laid up to me. In any event, I could tell that the two Jets personal fouls on Sunday were ridiculous by how quickly the refs whipped out their yellow flags to call New England for holding on both subsequent snaps, like they were make-up calls.) The Patriots then lapped New York by taking the second half kickoff 63 yards in 6 plays for their only touchdown and never trailed again.
The Jets special teams, which had been superb most of the season, earning ProFootballFocus.com’s top grade, had its own special category for all their self-inflicted wounds in the second half. It started with Braden Mann’s squibbed opening kickoff after he slipped and tumbled to the turf which set New England up with good field position for their TD drive. New York’s ensuing possession stalled in Pats territory, giving kicker Greg Zuerlein the opportunity to tie the score with a field goal. He missed from 45 yards out. Meanwhile, his Patriots counterpart Nick Folk a former Jets “folk” hero, went 5-for-5 on field goals. Finally, a 32-yard punt return by Marcus Jones put New England in position for another field goal, this one extending their lead to 19-10.
Most of Jets fans vitriol, however, centered on Wilson, and deservedly so. When injuries struck New York’s top offensive lineman (Alijah Vera-Tucker), WR1 (Corey Davis), and most feared weapon (rookie running back Breece Hall) in last week’s victory in Denver, everyone knew more would be put on the plate of the QB who was selected No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Wilson did breach the 300-yard barrier for the first time in his career and tossed two touchdown passes, but it occurred in one of his worst games. His inaccuracy (20-of-41) and poor decisions should not be this prevalent in Year 2. In addition, his jitteriness under pressure continued to manifest itself—per ESPN, he went 1-for-14 with three interceptions and two sacks taken in the 16 times he was harassed in 43 dropbacks. Though considered less athletic than Wilson, it was Jones who used his legs to take off downfield for important gains. Wilson looked more like the backup quarterback from the movie “Necessary Roughness”, who would run around in the backfield like a chicken without a head screaming to the ref, “Blow the whistle!”
The Jets (5-3) blew a tremendous opportunity to extend a four-game winning streak and separate themselves from other AFC wild card contenders in advance of their showdown with East leader Buffalo, who will invade MetLife next week. No matter what happens in that contest, though, the Jets will have time and a more favorable second-half schedule to write their own Hollywood ending. That, however, depends on Wilson correcting his decision-making, or else his part will be written out of the Jets’ story after just two seasons.