It wasn’t pretty, not even close, but if the Jets aren’t worried about style points, neither should we.
The Jets are winning football games, this is no longer a dream scenario, it’s reality. In game featuring two of the league’s best defenses, Gang Green outplayed the Denver Broncos just enough on Sunday for an ugly 16-9 win.
The Jets continue to do the necessary to win every week. They take care of the football and play outstanding defense.
With the win in Denver, the Jets are now 5-2 on the season, their best start since 2010. Ironically, that’s the last time this team went to the playoffs. Additionally, head coach Robert Saleh’s team is now 4-0 on the road.
“There’s no quit. We don’t flinch,” Saleh said afterwards. “They know that whenever it gets rough, there’s 60 percent more. They have completely bought in and believe what they are capable of. I just have so much faith in our group, especially as the game gets deeper and deeper, I just feel like we get stronger and stronger.”
The win for the Jets didn’t come, however, without great loss.
Rookie running back Breece Hall exited the game in the second quarter with a leg injury. Saleh said afterwards the initial prognosis for Hall is a torn ACL.
“He’s been a heck of a football player, and when you lose great football players, it’s not good,” Saleh said.
Hall has been, by far, the Jets most explosive offensive player. Losing him for any amount of time is a body blow to the team.
The Jets also overcame injuries to wide receiver Corey Davis (knee) and offensive tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker (elbow).
Here are takeaways from the game…
The Jets Win with Defense
Make no mistake about it, the Jets are thriving right now most of all because of their defense.
The Broncos were held scoreless in the second half, struggling to find any rhythm with backup quarterback Brett Rypien in for the inactive Russell Wilson.
Lamarcus Joyner intercepted Rypien and the Jets eventually converted that turnover into three points. It was the eighth interception of the season for the defense, surpassing their total from last year.
The Broncos were able to run the ball to the tune of 105 yards on 24 rushing attempts. The Jets defense however limited Denver to just 3.8 yards per carry.
Battling through adversity
The Jets were hit hard by injuries in this game. Losing Hall, Vera-Tucker, and Davis were big hits to the offense. The team not only overcame those injuries, but they also showed their grit on a day where there was enough sloppy play to make for an uncomfortable film session this week.
The Broncos outgained them in total yards (324 to 260) and passing yards (219 to 105). Moreover, the Jets were penalized 11 times for 85 yards. Eight of those penalties occurred in the first half.
“It was sloppy,” Saleh said. “Especially in the first half, a lot of self-inflicted wounds. Whenever you’re committing penalties, it’s because they’re going faster than you. That’s plain and simple. It took us a second. I felt like it was a little bit cleaner in the second half. It could’ve been a lot cleaner, but credit to the guys. Back-to-back road trips are never easy in this league, especially coming out here on this trip. I thought they gutted one out.”
Showing Love for Special Teams
The offense is doing just enough while making sure to also take care of the football. The defense has brought-in to Robert Saleh’s “All Gas No Breaks” mentality. The Jets, however, are also getting the job done on special teams.
The Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL, points, as expected, were hard to come by in this game. For the Jets, they needed to take the points when they could. Kicker Greg Zeurlein delivered with 10 of the team’s 16 points. Punter Braden Mann, meanwhile, averaged 54.8 yards per punt on 8 kicks.
In a game where defense was projected to take centerstage, the special teams unit stepping up proved critical to the final score.
Winning teams make sure they’re successful in all three phases of the game. The Jets, at 5-2, continue to impress.
Anthony Rushing is on Twitter @TonyRushingNY
Baseline Sports NY is on Twitter @Baseline_NY
