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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Jets coach Robert Saleh walked to the lectern on Sunday evening and gripped it so arduous 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.
On the finish of Sunday’s sport to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, a 23-20 loss, Saleh was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for ripping right into a referee after the Jets have been known as for a penalty which may’ve altered the result of a sport that was far nearer than anybody might’ve anticipated. The Jets had picked off Patrick Mahomes for the third time, solely it was known as again on a questionable defensive holding penalty, in opposition to cornerback Sauce Gardner.
“I’m not going to touch upon that,” Saleh stated.
A couple 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 within the locker room, he seemed able to burst, staring on the floor, rageful. He was instructed to bathe earlier than answering any questions, to chill off.
Rage.
The Jets are mad. This was a sport they may’ve received, ought to’ve received, in opposition to the defending Tremendous Bowl champions. Zach Wilson outplayed Mahomes — sure, he actually did. The best way Wilson performed, particularly on the finish of the primary half, was adequate to encourage some hope for the remainder of the season. That, possibly, Wilson could possibly be adequate to maintain the Jets afloat whereas they await Aaron Rodgers’ return, whether or not that’s this yr (a pipe dream) or subsequent. However a season is filled with moments that may change its trajectory.
Robert Saleh was known as for unsportsmanlike conduct late in Sunday’s sport. (Elsa / Getty Pictures)
The Jets are 1-3 after 4 weeks. Any goodwill derived from Wilson’s efficiency in opposition to the Chiefs — and he deserves reward for it — will rapidly evaporate if he can’t do it in opposition to the Broncos in Denver subsequent week. The Jets’ season has already reached a essential juncture, and Sunday evening’s loss didn’t assist.
Maybe the penalty known as on Gardner — or the one not known as on Johnson — would’ve modified the result if both had gone one other manner, however there have been different moments, too. Like when the protection rapidly put the Jets in a 17-0 deficit, a first-quarter efficiency filled with miscommunications and missed tackles, like on Isiah Pacheco’s 48-yard landing run. Or when Saleh selected to kick a 52-yard area purpose on fourth-and-1 towards the tip of the primary half, and Greg Zuerlein missed.
Within the third quarter, when the Jets might’ve taken a lead, Wilson accomplished a 15-yard go to C.J. Uzomah, but it surely was known as again on a penalty for heart Connor McGovern. The drive stalled out, they usually punted it away. The protection pressured a three-and-out, after which the Jets went three-and-out. The Chiefs scored a area purpose on their subsequent drive, after which Wilson made his greatest error of the season.
He took a snap from McGovern, couldn’t cling onto the ball and dropped it to the turf, recovered by the Chiefs, a brutal turnover at a essential juncture. That was his final play.
Wilson put the loss on himself.
“It’s on me,” Wilson stated. “Crucial state of affairs, I can’t have a play like that. I can not drop the ball. This staff is sacrificing quite a bit. Guys are making performs. Protection was making performs. O-line was defending. Receivers have been making performs. To be driving proper there, to drop a snap, I can not do this. I misplaced us that sport and I can not do this.”
“That is on me… I misplaced us that sport.”
– 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 within the locker room, broad receiver Allen Lazard stated, chatting with the staff after Saleh spoke, with the identical message.
Wilson was “simply making an attempt to take the blame for every little thing and that’s simply the competitor in him,” Lazard stated. “I used to be simply consoling him, saying: All of us made errors immediately. You weren’t the one one. Clearly, that one is highlighted extra as a result of it was later within the sport, however he performed wonderful.”
That’s a degree of accountability Wilson didn’t present final yr. He confirmed some issues as a quarterback, too, that he’d by no means actually proven earlier than. For 3 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 taking part in like somebody who was scared to make errors.
This week, the plan modified. The message: Let it rip.
“They instructed us, we’re going into this to win this sport,” McGovern stated. “We’re not entering into 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 within the first three video games. He had 5 go makes an attempt that traveled greater than 20 yards within the air and accomplished three of them. He was 1 of 6 within the first three video games. His greatest go was on the 10-yard landing to Lazard, thrown into tight protection, the place solely Lazard might 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 possibilities tonight they usually paid off,” broad receiver Randall Cobb stated. “He’s been desirous to make these throws however he’s been so apprehensive about errors, turnovers, and he has the power. He confirmed it tonight.”
Anybody who has adopted the Jets for the final decade (or longer) is uninterested in listening to about ethical victories. However simply because the Jets have been left for useless, they almost upended the Chiefs. The protection began sluggish, 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 major influence. 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, seemed 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 within the season. An ethical victory in Week 4 received’t imply a lot if the Jets lose once more in Week 5.
But when Wilson can play that effectively the remainder of the best way? Chiefs defensive deal with Chris Jones put it merely.
“They are often particular,” he stated.
(High picture: Dustin Satloff / Getty Pictures)
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