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Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson are suddenly big concerns for the Jets

Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson are suddenly big concerns for the Jets

The Jets lost a horrible, ugly 10-9 game to the Broncos in the rain on Sunday, falling to 2-2 on the season. Here are some thoughts and observations about the game:

1. This was a terrible loss for the Jets. They had an opponent they most wanted to beat that had a rookie quarterback making his fourth start. The game took place at home. The Jets had a long break after beating the Patriots on Thursday night without having to travel for two weeks. Everything was geared towards victory.

Instead they fell on her face.

The question now is how they react to it. Look, I understand the reaction to this loss. I understand that the fans want Robert Saleh fired and Nathaniel Hackett banned. Everyone needs to take a breath. This is a game. The Jets looked pretty good over the last six quarters against the Patriots and Titans. You shouldn't forget that.

But … the Jets need to make sure this was a blip on the radar screen of a long, long season and not an omen of what's to come this year. You must ensure that the penalties are clarified. That's up to Saleh and his coaches. They need to get the offense together. For the most part, they seemed out of sync for the first four weeks. It worked against the Patriots and they had some other really good offenses, but overall, that's not what an offense with this much talent should look like.

There could be issues early in the season that need to be addressed and that's understandable. The Jets have a lot of new talent on offense and the starters didn't play in the preseason. It could simply be that they need more time to work.

The calendar now turns to October and the Jets head into Week 5. It's time to find another gear on offense. We'll see if the Jets can do it. If they get it done on offense, we'll consider this Broncos game a strange loss. If not, we know this was the first indication that this team isn't as good as they think.

2. I'm shocked at how little impact Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall have had this season. After seeing them in training camp, I was sure these two were on the verge of a fantastic third season, but they both don't look right.

With Wilson, I think it's a question of getting used to playing with Aaron Rodgers. It's clear that the wide receiver Rodgers trusts the most is Allen Lazard. The two have had chemistry since their years in Green Bay. I don't think Rodgers is the easiest quarterback for receivers to play with because he doesn't follow the rules of the game. The game may be going one way, but when Rodgers sees something, he adjusts. The recipient has to adapt to it. I don't think Wilson is doing that right now. The play late in the fourth quarter when he lost his bearings was telling. Rodgers saw one. Wilson saw another.

Jets running back Breece Hall (20) fails to hold onto the ball during a pass play against the Broncos on September 29, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) makes a catch in front of Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) on September 29, 2024. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

I think that with more time together, Wilson can become on par with Rodgers. Hall's problems are harder to pinpoint. He doesn't look as explosive as he did last year, which is strange since he's now two years removed from ACL surgery. Hall has a long run, a 30-yarder against the Titans. He only has three total runs of 10 yards or more. He has 15 runs with no gain or negative mileage. Some of this can be limited to the offensive line, but the offense seems to move better when Braelon Allen is in the game.

The expectation going into the season was that Hall and Wilson would drive the Jets' offense along with Rodgers. So far they are stuttering.

3. Let me make one thing clear: This loss is clearly due to the offense. You should win a game if the opponent only scores 10 points. However, the Jets defense likes to talk about being one of the best defenses in the league and has sometimes compared itself to historical defenses.

They had to be better on Sunday.

They only fired Bo Nix once. They forced a turnover. On this day, the Jets needed their defense to score points. You might think that's an absurd demand for a defense, but when you're truly an elite defense, you score. The Jets had three defensive touchdowns last season and none in 2022.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will face the Jets on September 29, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Looking at the game, it's fair to question whether this was good defense by the Jets or bad offense by the Broncos. I would choose the latter. As I said, defense is not the reason the Jets lost the game. But I think they could have been the reason the Jets would have won the game if they had played at an elite level.

4. The Jets need to give Allen the ball at the goal line. I know Hall has already scored two goal-line touchdowns this season, but Hall didn't look good from the start on Sunday. Allen comes in and rips off a 9-yard run. Then, later on that drive, the Jets don't give him the ball once from the 1-yard line. He was on fourth-and-1 when John Simpson had the false start, so maybe it went to him then. Allen almost always falls forward. You can't see him losing yards. I agree with giving Hall a hit on first down but then giving the ball to Allen on second or third down. The Jets coaching staff has no hesitation in accepting Allen as a short yardage back.

Insightful statistics

This is the 13th time in Jets history that they allowed 60 or fewer passing yards and lost the game. The last time was on December 12, 2010, when they lost 10-6 to the Dolphins, who had 30 yards.

Surprising snap count

Malachi Corley played zero snaps. I expected the newbie to take some time to play a bigger role, but I didn't think he wouldn't have a role at all.

game ball

Quincy Williams was the Jets' best player this season. Williams had seven tackles, two for a loss and a forced fumble. Williams flies around the field and continues to play for the Jets.

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