Jets Come Up Short Against Super Bowl Champs

Wilson Solid in Loss to Chiefs

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

The New York Jets turnaround performance Sunday night was just short of a home victory as they lost 23-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

It would have been a beautiful comeback story for the Jets, led by Zach Wilson, to defeat the 2022 Super Bowl Champions on the warm fall night with a green sky lit by lights held by fans. New York played smart and fierce to redeem themselves to come back from 17 points behind to tie the score, but they were short of the victory in part due to penalties and to mishaps.

“I thought he was really good,” said head coach Robert Saleh about Wilson. “He gave us a chance to win the game. Brought us back. If he plays like that, we’re going to win a lot of football games.”

Kansas City was on the scoreboard first with a field goal by kicker Harrison Butker on their first possession and followed it up with a touchdown as running back Isiah Pacheco (Rutgers University) made a 48-yard rush on their next possession. The Chiefs scored again on their third possession as Mahomes passed to Noah Gray for a touchdown. New York trailed 17-0 at the end of the quarter.

The comeback started with a safety in the second quarter. The Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor was called for personal foul (face mask) while in the end zone and resulted in a safety. “We definitely felt that and got to go right out there after that, which was awesome and I think we scored three,” said Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson on the safety being a spark for them.

The Jets got close enough for a field goal after a pass to Wilson for 14 yards and a deep pass to Allen Lazard for 39 yards. Kicker Greg Zuerlein’s 31-yard field goal was good for three more points.

Jets safety Ashtyn Davis intercepted Mahomes‘ pass on the chiefs next possession. A few plays later Wilson completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to C. J. Uzomah. Butker kicked another field goal for the Chiefs and the Jets trailed 20-12 at halftime.

Wilson found wide receiver Allen Lazard for a touchdown in the third quarter and then completed a two-point conversion to tie the game at 20. “I was lit,” Lazard said. “You could just feel the energy just shift and the momentum changing towards our side, that was a huge part, especially to be able to come out there in the second half.”

Another Butker field goal gave the Chiefs 23-20 lead in the fourth quarter. A questionable flag was thrown on cornerback Sauce Gardener for holding and missed calls on the Chiefs for holding defensive end Jermaine Johnson could have impacted the game. Coach Saleh did not comment on these calls following the game.  The call on Gardner nullified an interception by cornerback Michael Carter II and gave the ball back to Mahomes.

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers attended the game as he healed from surgery “Can’t wait to get him on the sideline with us and all of that, but it’s always good to have him around,” Wilson said about Rodgers.

Wilson completed 28 of 39 passes for 245 yards and threw zero interceptions. Mahomes completed 18 of 30 passes for 203 yards and threw two interceptions.