Jets Fall Short at Home
The New York Jets faced a disheartening loss at home, falling 10-9 to the Denver Broncos, marking a notable struggle in the early stages of their 2024 season. The defeat leaves the Jets with a 2-2 record, a far cry from the promising start they had hoped for. The game was marred by an extraordinary number of penalties, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
Unprecedented Penalty Count
The Jets committed an NFL-high 13 penalties during their Week 4 clash, with eight of those infractions stemming from their offense. This surge in penalties is particularly glaring when compared to their performance in the first three weeks of the season, where they had amassed just eight offensive penalties, tying for the 10th-fewest in the league. The sudden spike in penalties was a significant factor in their narrow loss.
Among the offensive penalties, five were due to false starts. This uncharacteristic lack of discipline drew sharp criticism from within the team and was seen as a primary reason for their offensive struggles. Notably, left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall were each flagged for two false starts, while left tackle Tyron Smith received one.
Key Players Speak Out
Head coach Robert Saleh expressed his concern over the unexpected penalties, especially the false starts, which had not been an issue throughout training camp. "We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence. Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back," he remarked with a mixture of frustration and determination.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers echoed Saleh's sentiments, emphasizing the rarity of such errors in their preparation and practice. "That's one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable. We haven't had an issue. We've only had one false start. [Right tackle] Morgan had one false start, I believe, until this. You know it's been a weapon. We use it every day in practice. We rarely have a false start. To have five today, it seemed like, four or five. Yeah, it seems like an outlier. I don't know if we need to make mass changes based on kind of an outlier game," Rodgers stated, suggesting that this might have been a one-off lapse rather than a systemic problem.
Veteran Insights
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly provided a unique perspective on the issue, speaking to the power of Rodgers' hard count, which is often a strategic advantage. "He nailed it: 'my hard count is a weapon.' The amount of big plays, go ask Jordy Nelson. 'Hey Jordy, do you think the hard count that Aaron Rodgers has is effective?' He would say, 'Yeah, I got paid a lot of money on go balls that Aaron threw me after a defensive lineman jumped offsides.'" Kuechly's comments underline the importance of the hard count in Rodgers' playbook, making the false starts even more perplexing.
Former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams also weighed in, highlighting Rodgers' meticulous attention to detail and the need for accountability. "Aaron is all about the attention to detail. So, snap count, that's attention to detail. You got to be locked in on something like that. We always talked about in Green Bay that the play is hard enough to win on its own, so let's not lose it pre-snap. ... At least let's get our pre-snap operation smooth. Everybody hears the same snap count in the huddle, so there's really no excuse for one of these things. Holding people accountable, I agree (with Rodgers). Sometimes that's what you have to do versus run from it. Have certain consequences if guys can't get right," Adams elaborated, pointing out the critical need for precision and focus before the snap.
A Costly Miss
Adding to the Jets' woes, kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a potential game-winning 50-yard field goal with just 51 seconds left on the clock. This miss compounded the frustration of an already penalty-ridden game and underscored the narrow margin by which they lost.
The Jets' disappointing performance against the Broncos will undoubtedly lead to introspection and adjustments as they look to reduce penalties and regain their composure. With the season still young, there is ample time to rectify these issues and build on the positives moving forward. For now, the sting of this narrow defeat will serve as a harsh reminder of the fine margins that define success and failure in the NFL.