Jets Stumble at Home Against Denver Broncos: A Game Marred by Penalties
The New York Jets succumbed to a disappointing 10-9 loss against the Denver Broncos at home, a game characterized by a series of detrimental penalties that stymied their offensive rhythm. This defeat pulls their record to an even 2-2 for the 2024 NFL season.
Committing an NFL-high 13 penalties, the Jets' performance was beleaguered by self-inflicted mistakes. Notably, the offense was responsible for eight of these infractions, making them the second-most penalized offensive unit in Week 4, narrowly trailing the Houston Texans' nine penalties.
The breakdown of these penalties reveals critical issues within the team's discipline and focus. The offense's struggle was particularly evident with five penalties resulting from false starts. Left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall were each flagged twice for false starts, while left tackle Tyron Smith was penalized once. This stands in stark contrast to the Jets' earlier games, where they had only one false start violation in the first three weeks and just eight offensive penalties overall, tying them for the 10th-fewest in the league.
With a chance to clinch the game, kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a crucial 50-yard field goal with just 51 seconds remaining. This missed opportunity epitomized the Jets' misfortune and lack of execution in critical moments.
In the aftermath of the loss, Head Coach Robert Saleh did not mince words about their performance. "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 lamented, summarizing the unexpected regression in their discipline.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers echoed Saleh's sentiments, emphasizing the rarity of such a meltdown. "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 said.
These sentiments were reinforced by former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly, who acknowledged the potency of Rodgers' hard count. "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 noted, pointing out the previously reliable strategy.
Former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams shed light on Rodgers' meticulous nature 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 reflected, aligning with the notion of internal discipline.
In a broader context, the Jets' inconsistency raises significant concerns for their aspirations this season. The fluctuation in performance, particularly the abrupt surge in penalties, suggests deeper issues that require immediate addressing. The leadership of Saleh and Rodgers will be vital in redirecting the team's focus and instilling the necessary discipline to avoid such pitfalls moving forward.
As the season progresses, correcting these errors will be paramount for the Jets to establish themselves as legitimate contenders. The potential is evident, but without overcoming these setbacks, consistency will remain elusive.