The New York Jets came into Monday night flying high. Three straight wins for Gang Green had Jet fans feeling confident. Zach Wilson, while not perfect, has been able to make some magic happen at the end of games to pull out big wins. It was time to show the league this team is a real playoff contender and beat a struggling Chargers team.
LA received the opening kick and New York’s defense went to work. The Chargers' offense can be as explosive as any in the game, but this Jets defense has been lights out at shutting down quarterbacks all year.
After forcing and 3-and-out, Zach Wilson and company took the field to try and make something happen in the first quarter for the second time this year. After Breece Hall picked up four yards on 1st down, two incompletions brought out reigning Special Teams Player of the Week Thomas Morstead to punt the ball away. Derius Davis hauled in the punt and took it 87 yards all the way to the house to put the Chargers up 7-0 early in the game.
The Jets got a little drive going with some help from a Joey Bosa roughing the passer penalty to put them into Chargers' territory. Zach Wilson completed a pass to Garrett Wilson, however when Garrett Wilson tried to cut upfield the ball was punched out and recovered by Derwin James.
The Gang Green defense stood tall once again forcing a Chargers' punt but once again the offense turned the ball over. Wilson dropped back and was stripped by Joey Bosa just five plays into the drive giving LA the ball back.
The Bolts took over at midfield and this time took full advantage of the New York turnover. The biggest play came on 3rd and 2 when Austin Ekeler scampered for 20 yards to set up 1st and goal from the New York 1-yard line. Los Angeles’ stud running back then punched it into the end zone giving the Chargers a 14-0 just 13 minutes into the game.
The 2nd quarter, like most Jet games this year, consisted of each team trading punts. The Jets defense continued to make Justin Herbert uncomfortable but the offense just could not get any momentum going. Greg Zuerlein drilled a 47-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-3. The Chargers tacked on a field goal of their own as time expired and led 17-3 going into the half.
Wilson and the offense started to put a drive together after getting the ball to start the 2nd half. A huge 31-yard completion to Garrett Wilson started the drive off. The Jets pushed the ball deep into LA territory driving to the 11-yard line. The offensive line however could not contain the LA pass rush and Zach Wilson was sacked two straight plays setting up yet another field goal making it 17-6.
Another strong stop by the New York defense gave the offense the ball back however another Zach Wilson sack led to a Morstead punt. LA tacked on another field goal off the Jet punt and the 4th Quarter was more of the same as the Jets' offense could not move the ball or finish drives. The Charges closed the curtains on the game when Ekeler powered into the endzone for the final score of the game with the final score of LA 27 and New York 6. Once again the offense failed to show life and the defense eventually ran out of gas.
The Jets fall to 4-4 on the year and travel to Vegas to face a Raiders team that looks rejuvenated now that Antonio Pierce has taken over as head coach.
The takeaway from tonight’s loss is simple. With a better offense, this team is a top AFC team but at this point, they are a Wild Card road team. It may be time to admit defeat on Wilson, while he can win some games, he is clearly not a starting quarterback in the NFL. Personally, this is another perfect reason why Rodgers should not suit up until next year. The season is by no means over, but it is hard to be confident in an offense as sluggish as this.
