The New York Jets endured a dispiriting home defeat, succumbing 10-9 to the Denver Broncos in a game marred by self-inflicted wounds.
Penalties Plague the Jets
The Jets' Week 4 performance was hindered by a staggering 13 penalties, the most in the NFL for the week. This undisciplined display contributed significantly to their downfall and dropped them to a 2-2 record for the 2024 season. Eight of these infractions were committed by the offense, with five being false starts.
Key figures in the penalty spree included left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall, who were each called for two false starts. Left tackle Tyron Smith also contributed with a single false start. These miscues are notable considering the Jets had only one false start violation in the first three weeks of the season. From Weeks 1 to 3, they amassed a total of just eight offensive penalties, tying them for the 10th-fewest in the league.
Missed Opportunities
The game’s decisive moment came with 51 seconds left on the clock when kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a go-ahead 50-yard field goal attempt. The miss was a microcosm of the Jets’ inability to execute when it mattered most, leaving their defense unable to secure a narrow victory.
Voices from the Team
Head coach Robert Saleh acknowledged the daunting challenge ahead, stating, "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."
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers shared his perspective on the situation, reflecting on the team's typical proficiency. "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."
Expert Opinions
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly weighed in on the unique challenge presented by Rodgers' hard count, which disrupted the Jets' typically smooth operation. "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.'"
Davante Adams, a former Green Bay Packers receiver and Rodgers' longtime teammate, emphasized the importance of attention to detail. "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."
The Jets now face the task of rebuilding their offensive discipline as they prepare for their next matchup. With the potential Rodgers sees in their pre-snap operations, but needing strict attention to detail and accountability, the team must focus on overcoming this setback and avoiding further unnecessary penalties.