After a sluggish start that featured 11 consecutive punts and the first scoreless first half since 2019, the New York Jets found an offensive rhythm in the second half of their game against the Houston Texans to pull out a 30-6 victory at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. The win snaps a five-game losing streak.
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The Jets’ 30 points are the most they’ve scored since tallying 31 in a win over the Denver Broncos in Week 5, and with 347 total yards, New York (5-8) surpassed 300 for the first time since facing the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10.
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, who hadn’t played since Week 11 and was reluctant to step back into the starting role this week, went 27-of-36 passing for 301 yards and two touchdowns. He was responsible for 15 of New York’s 20 first downs as well. Prior to this game, Wilson had thrown for 1,944 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions this season while completing only 59.2 percent of his passes.
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Texans (7-6) QB C.J. Stroud exited the game late in the fourth quarter after taking a hit from Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The back of Stroud’s helmet hit the turf hard, and he was evaluated for a concussion.
Before the hit, Stroud had completed 10-of-23 passing attempts for 91 yards, all of which were season lows for the rookie.
Wilson wasn’t the only Jets player to catch fire Sunday as kicker Greg Zuerlein also put up impressive numbers. The veteran hit field goals of 51, 55 and 44 yards.
Jets finally let loose
The Jets, finally, “let it rip” with Wilson. That was the message all week, that the Jets were going to stop trying to keep things conservative with him and quarterback — and it paid off in a major way.
It looked like the Jets were headed toward another boring, low-scoring loss when they went into the locker room tied 0-0 — and then offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett opened up the playbook. The Jets ran some more pre-snap motion, play action, got Wilson on the move and took shots down field. In the end, after another few weeks of turmoil in a career full of that, Wilson might’ve had the best game of his NFL career — and against a good Texans team, no less. — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets beat writer
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Give Wilson his flowers
Wilson deserves all the credit for bouncing back after being benched — again — a few weeks ago and coming out and showing that in the right environment, maybe he’s a talent worth developing. Maybe that won’t be with the Jets, but Wilson flashed enough ability on Sunday that somebody should be willing to take a shot on him in 2024. — Rosenblatt
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Who else stood out?
The Jets coming into Sunday had only scored four touchdowns in their last 88 possessions, and then scored three in the second half alone. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson had his second 100-yard game of the season (nine catches, 108 yards) and running back Breece Hall added eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, with 40 more yards rushing.
The playoffs are still unlikely, but the Jets snapping a five-game losing streak does make one wonder if Aaron Rodgers is more likely to return now than if they had lost again. — RosenblattKey play
TOUCHDOOOOOOWN! @rcobb18 walks it into the endzone!#HOUvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/0ZSoWLoOgL
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 10, 2023
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(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
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