The Jets didn’t kick off 2022 with a win, but the team’s performance against the Buccaneers may have been its best of the season.
New York held its own – and actually led – for the majority of its Week 17 contest. This happened in spite of copious injuries, COVID-19 absences, and having one of the youngest rosters in the league. The Jets even had an opportunity to close out the game in the fourth quarter before a failed fourth-down conversion gave Tom Brady the opening to do Tom Brady things and win the game in the final two minutes.
“A lot of young guys made a lot of great plays and there were a lot of things that I thought were fantastic from our group against a championship football team.” Robert Saleh said after the 28-24 loss. “They deserved better.”
This did not look like the same team that lost 30-9 to the Saints just three weeks ago.
Zach Wilson put together his most complete game of the season, going 19-33 for 234 yards, a touchdown and no turnovers. He hit his receivers with pinpoint accuracy and stayed upright in the pocket, taking just one sack. Michael Carter broke off a scintillating 55-yard scamper before suffering a concussion, while Braxton Berrios continued his hot stretch with 77 total offensive yards and two touchdowns.
Even the defense looked solid for most of the day. Rookie defensive backs Brandin Echols and Michael Carter delivered huge plays; Echols picked off Brady, while Carter II sacked him on third down. C.J. Mosley wracked up another double-digit tackle performance, while Folorunso Fatukasi made four run stops. Nathan Shepherd led the team with two QB pressures.
“There are so many great things to take from this,” Saleh added. “Our guys played their absolute tails off. We were right at the cusp of everything. We were one yard away.”
It was inexperience on the sideline and in the huddle that cost the Jets the game. Saleh explained that Wilson had the option to toss the ball to Berrios or sneak it himself on the botched fourth-down play, but New York’s coaching staff preferred the toss and didn’t communicate that to the quarterback. Wilson took the snap and only gained one yard when two were needed for the first down.
The poor communication proved costly, as Brady and company marched down the field for the win. While the Jets need to clean that up, they should also embrace all the good that came from the loss.
No one understands this more than Saleh, who’s been through his fair share of rebuilds. But Wilson also saw the silver lining.
“We took a step in the right direction and I think guys gotta understand that,” Wilson said. “You can’t get too down on yourself because it’s exactly what we needed. We needed to give those guys a game and we came in ready to play.”
Wilson took a tremendous step forward himself. He finished with his most passing yards since Week 11, his fourth consecutive game without an interception, and his third consecutive game with a completion percentage of more than 56 percent. The questions about Wilson’s ability to lead the offense just three weeks ago have dissipated, even with an objectively worse supporting cast around him.
“I’m just starting to get a better grasp for the offense,” Wilson said. “I thought Mike [LaFleur’s] done an amazing job of putting me in a good position, feeling comfortable with what’s going on. … I just felt comfortable with what was going on and think that is what happens when you play more and get more reps.”
The Jets gave the Bucs a run for their money despite missing their top three receiving options, both starting tight ends, veteran running back Tevin Coleman and a couple of defensive players, including Quinnen Williams. New York also lost Carter and starting left tackle George Fant in the middle of the game.
Those missing pieces matter for a young team with a first-time coaching staff. But it didn’t seem to impact Wilson and the Jets on Sunday. The players will get the credit for the play on the field, but that’s also on the coaches for scheming well despite lapses across the roster. Yes, the Jets coaches will be skewered for their decisions in the final two minutes – namely, the fourth-down attempt and the final defensive series – but New York should be incredibly encouraged with its team heading into the final game of the 2021 season.
“Eventually, the score is going to take care of itself,” Wilson said. “You just got to play ball and the wins will take care of themselves if we just keep doing our job.”
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