Jets Suffer Heartbreaking Home Loss to Broncos, Penalties Prove Costly
The New York Jets are grappling with a difficult home loss after falling 10-9 to the Denver Broncos, a game marred by an NFL-high 13 penalties that ultimately sealed their fate. This Week 4 defeat leaves the Jets with a balanced 2-2 record for the young 2024 season.
Eight of the 13 infractions were committed by the Jets' offense, ranking them as the second-most penalized unit in the league for Week 4, just behind the Houston Texans. Head coach Robert Saleh reflected on his team's troubling undisciplined play. "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," Saleh remarked.
False starts loomed large in this error-ridden performance, significantly tarnishing what could have been a pivotal victory. Five of the offensive penalties were attributed to false starts, with left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall each flagged twice, while left tackle Tyron Smith accounted for one. The team had managed to remain relatively disciplined in the first three weeks of the season, incurring only one false start violation. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was also taken aback by the out-of-character errors. "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."
Special teams mishaps further compounded the Jets' woes. Kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a crucial 50-yard, go-ahead field goal with just 51 seconds left on the clock, dashing any hopes for a last-minute comeback. This missed opportunity was a painful reminder of the fine margins in competitive NFL games.
Rodgers, known for his meticulous attention to detail, has always leveraged his hard count as a strategic weapon, a sentiment echoed by former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly. "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.'" Rodgers' frustration with his new team's failure to execute such a basic aspect of the game was palpable.
Davante Adams, a former Green Bay Packers receiver who has extensive experience playing with Rodgers, emphasized the importance of discipline and accountability in pre-snap operations. "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 noted.
The Jets' rough outing raises questions about their readiness and adaptability, particularly regarding their offensive cadence and discipline. The team had only eight offensive penalties from Weeks 1 to 3, tying for the 10th-fewest in the league. This stark escalation in penalties during their clash with the Broncos represents a concerning deviation from their earlier form. Additionally, the penalties not only stalled drives but also sapped momentum at critical junctures.
As the Jets look to regroup and address these issues, the narrative will focus on their ability to absorb these lessons and bounce back. Their early-season performance suggested a disciplined squad, but their inconsistency will need to be rectified if they are to compete at the highest levels and avoid further heart-wrenching defeats.