Jets Win for OC Nathaniel Hackett
-Tom Mele, Contributor
After Sean Payton took over the Denver Broncos (1-4) this offseason from previous HC Nathaniel Hackett, Payton made some less than complimentary comments about the state of the team. Aaron Rodgers was especially upset, and Jets circled this date on the schedule back in the offseason. The result was a 31-21 win that stops their three-game losing streak and moves the Jets to 2-3.
The game was not decided till LB Quincy Williams made his second sack of the day on QB Russell Wilson
forcing him to fumble where CB Bryce Hall scooped it up and returned 39 yards for a score.
Hall was in the lineup as CB DJ Reed was out with a concussion as well as DB Brandin Echols HC Robert Saleh exclaimed “I thought the defense was outstanding minus the one drive and overall, it was gritty, and it wasn’t pretty. Jermaine Johnson and Bryce Huff picked up sacks as well for the Jets who also recorded a team safety in the first half.
The offensive star was Breece Hall as he galloped for a 72-yard score on the first play of the second half giving the Jets (2-3) their first double digit lead of the season. Hall finished with 177 yards on 22 carries on the same field where he ended his season the previous season due to injury.
Zach Wilson had a solid outing going for 19-26 for 199 yards but late in the game was intercepted by CB
Patrick Surtain as the Jets were looking to add on to their lead. In addition, there was a sequence at the end of the first half while driving deep into Denver territory. Wilson completed a short pass underneath to TE C.J. Uzomah and the clock ran out as they could not get back to the line of scrimmage to spike the ball.
The Jets relied too much on K Greg Zuerlein to kick three field goals under 27 yards, as Gang Green could
not punch it in the redzone. Overall, the offense compiled 407 yards with 234 on the ground but third down has been an issue and the Jets were 3 for 12.
The Jets for the second straight year in Denver lost budding superstar Alijah Vera Tucker for the season as he tore his Achilles in the second qtr. It was in week seven last year Tucker tore his triceps prematurely ending the year. The Jets used second year T Max Mitchell to finish the game and will also look to veteran Bill Turner whom they signed in the offseason to stabilize the line.
Week 6 is another tough matchup for New York as they face the NFC Defending champion and 5-0
Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife. Philly’s defense is top 3 in the NFC and Zach Wilson will be tested again
as the Eagles posses a fearsome pass rush like the Cowboys had in Week 2. That was four weeks and the
practice time for Wilson has prepared him for this. Now it is just a matter of executing.