EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Jets coach Robert Saleh walked to the lectern on Sunday evening and gripped it so laborious it ought to’ve snapped in half. There have been moments when Saleh wasn’t talking a lot, however his fingers have been. His proper fist was clenched, and he’d knock on the lectern, as if all of the issues he needed to say, to scream, have been simply beneath the floor. He tried to stay calm.
At the tip of Sunday’s recreation to the Kansas City Chiefs, a 23-20 loss, Saleh was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for ripping right into a referee after the Jets have been referred to as for a penalty which may’ve altered the result of a recreation that was far nearer than anybody may’ve anticipated. The Jets had picked off Patrick Mahomes for the third time, solely it was referred to as again on a questionable defensive holding penalty, towards cornerback Sauce Gardner.
“I’m not going to comment on that,” Saleh stated.
A number of performs earlier, defensive finish Jermaine Johnson was held by a Chiefs offensive lineman as Mahomes scrambled for 25 yards on third-and-23, however there was no flag. When reporters approached Johnson in the locker room, he regarded prepared to burst, staring on the floor, rageful. He was instructed to bathe earlier than answering any questions, to cool off.
Rage.
The Jets are mad. This was a recreation they may’ve gained, ought to’ve gained, towards the defending Super Bowl champions. Zach Wilson outplayed Mahomes — sure, he actually did. The approach Wilson performed, particularly on the finish of the primary half, was ok to encourage some hope for the remainder of the season. That, perhaps, Wilson might be ok to maintain the Jets afloat whereas they await Aaron Rodgers’ return, whether or not that’s this yr (a pipe dream) or subsequent. But a season is full of moments that may change its trajectory.

Robert Saleh was referred to as for unsportsmanlike conduct late in Sunday’s recreation. (Elsa / Getty Images)
The Jets are 1-3 after 4 weeks. Any goodwill derived from Wilson’s efficiency towards the Chiefs — and he deserves reward for it — will rapidly evaporate if he can’t do it towards the Broncos in Denver subsequent week. The Jets’ season has already reached a vital juncture, and Sunday evening’s loss didn’t assist.
Perhaps the penalty referred to as on Gardner — or the one not referred to as on Johnson — would’ve modified the result if both had gone one other approach, however there have been different moments, too. Like when the protection rapidly put the Jets in a 17-0 deficit, a first-quarter efficiency full of miscommunications and missed tackles, like on Isiah Pacheco’s 48-yard landing run. Or when Saleh selected to kick a 52-yard area aim on fourth-and-1 towards the tip of the primary half, and Greg Zuerlein missed.
In the third quarter, when the Jets may’ve taken a lead, Wilson accomplished a 15-yard go to C.J. Uzomah, however it was referred to as again on a penalty for heart Connor McGovern. The drive stalled out, and they punted it away. The protection compelled a three-and-out, after which the Jets went three-and-out. The Chiefs scored a area aim on their subsequent drive, after which Wilson made his largest error of the season.
He took a snap from McGovern, couldn’t grasp onto the ball and dropped it to the turf, recovered by the Chiefs, a brutal turnover at a vital juncture. That was his final play.
Wilson put the loss on himself.
“It’s on me,” Wilson stated. “Critical situation, I can’t have a play like that. I cannot drop the ball. This team is sacrificing a lot. Guys are making plays. Defense was making plays. O-line was protecting. Receivers were making plays. To be driving right there, to drop a snap, I cannot do that. I lost us that game and I cannot do that.”
“That’s on me… I lost us that game.”
– Jets QB Zach Wilson on his fumbled snap pic.twitter.com/ZFjwLUF1ue
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) October 2, 2023
On the sideline, Wilson blamed himself, however his teammates wouldn’t let him. He tried once more in the locker room, large receiver Allen Lazard stated, talking to the staff after Saleh spoke, with the identical message.
Wilson was “just trying to take the blame for everything and that’s just the competitor in him,” Lazard stated. “I was just consoling him, saying: We all made mistakes today. You weren’t the only one. Obviously, that one is highlighted more because it was later in the game, but he played amazing.”
That’s a degree of accountability Wilson didn’t show final yr. He confirmed some issues as a quarterback, too, that he’d by no means actually proven earlier than. For three weeks, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett had been calling performs that made it clear the Jets have been scared about Wilson making errors. And so, in flip, Wilson was enjoying like somebody who was scared to make errors.
This week, the plan modified. The message: Let it rip.
“They told us, we’re going into this to win this game,” McGovern stated. “We’re not going in it to not lose.”
Hackett labored extra play motion into the script — getting Wilson out of the pocket — and it labored. He accomplished seven of eight passes on play motion, per TruMedia, after going 8 of 15 in the primary three video games. He had 5 go makes an attempt that traveled greater than 20 yards in the air and accomplished three of them. He was 1 of 6 in the primary three video games. His greatest go was on the 10-yard landing to Lazard, thrown into tight protection, the place solely Lazard may get it.
.@ZachWilson out right here throwing DOTS.
TIE BALLGAME.#KCvsNYJ on NBC pic.twitter.com/xn9FQUmCEl
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 2, 2023
Wilson set a profession excessive in completions (28) and completed with 245 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
“He took some chances tonight and they paid off,” large receiver Randall Cobb stated. “He’s been wanting to make those throws but he’s been so worried about mistakes, turnovers, and he has the ability. He showed it tonight.”
Anyone who has adopted the Jets for the final decade (or longer) is drained of listening to about ethical victories. But simply because the Jets have been left for lifeless, they practically upended the Chiefs. The protection began gradual, however allowed solely three factors after the primary quarter and picked off Mahomes twice. Travis Kelce, in entrance of Taylor Swift, didn’t make a big affect. Hackett manufactured touches for playmakers who hadn’t been getting the ball sufficient beforehand, like Xavier Gipson and Garrett Wilson, who was focused 14 occasions. The offensive line held up effectively.
And Wilson, lastly, regarded like an NFL-caliber beginning quarterback. The Jets are one other loss away from the season going off the rails, however for now, it’s truthful to really feel like this staff is shut — however provided that Wilson can do this once more.
And once more.
And once more.
There are 14 weeks left in the season. An ethical victory in Week 4 gained’t imply a lot if the Jets lose once more in Week 5.
But if Wilson can play that effectively the remainder of the way in which? Chiefs defensive sort out Chris Jones put it merely.
“They can be special,” he stated.
(Top picture: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)
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https://theathletic.com/4920715/2023/10/02/jets-chiefs-recap-zach-wilson/