No “O” or “D” in Jets Loss to Dallas

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

 

Arlington, Texas – So much for the best laid plans. When the New York Jets traded for Super Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the team was the talk of the NFL. Jets fans envisioned a deep run in the playoffs and thoughts of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Four plays into Rodgers debut against the Buffalo Bills, he gets sacked and ruptures his Achilles tendon. Season over. Somehow, Gang Green overcame the injury and behind quarterback Zach Wilson and a tenacious defense, the Jets came away with the overtime win. Fast forward to last Sunday afternoon and the Jets faced the Dallas Cowboys who were coming off a 40-0 thrashing on the road against the New York Giants. Zach Wilson had a full week of practice but unfortunately his performance was similar to last year when he was eventually benched.

 

The Dallas defense which gave Giants quarterback Daniel Jones fits, picked up right where they left off pressuring Wilson all afternoon. Wilson completed 12 of 27 passes for 170 yards, 1 touchdown and was intercepted 3 times eerily looking like he did last year getting sacked 3 times. Wilson missed 9 of 10 third down conversions in the 30-10 loss. 

 

On the flip side, Cowboys quarterback kept the offense moving completing 31-38 passes for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dallas had 18 third down attempts and converted 9. Dallas had 83 offensive plays to the Jets 46. Teams will not win games with that disparity.

 

Said Jets head coach Robert Saleh, “we just didn’t ourselves a chance defensively to get off the field and give our offense a chance to get any kind of rhythm going.” The running game which was an integral part the week before, was virtually non-existent. Said Wilson, “I mean they single high, stacking the box daring us to throw the football. And like l said, we had a couple of third and one opportunities. We just couldn’t convert it to be able to get a chance to run the football.”

 

If there is a silver lining, it’s that the loss was not against a division opponent. The Jets have a chance to go 2-0 in the division when they host the New England Patriots Sunday afternoon.