The New York Jets suffered a heart-wrenching 10-9 loss at home to the Denver Broncos, a game that left both fans and players disheartened. The Jets' performance on Sunday was marred by a staggering 13 penalties, an NFL-high for Week 4, which played a significant factor in their narrow defeat.
Of the 13 penalties, eight were committed by the Jets' offense, marking a dramatic fall from their relatively disciplined play in the first three weeks of the season. The offense, now ranked as the second-most penalized in Week 4 behind the Houston Texans, seemed uncharacteristically out of sync. Vice of this discipline included five costly false starts.
John Simpson, the left guard, found himself flagged for two false starts, while running back Breece Hall also struggled with the same infraction twice. Additionally, left tackle Tyron Smith committed one false start, rounding out the costly mental errors that stymied the Jets' offensive efforts. Reflecting on the unusual surge in penalties, head coach Robert Saleh said, "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."
Concerns Over an Off-Day
Interestingly, the Jets had only recorded one false start violation in the first three weeks of the season. They had eight offensive penalties during that span, placing them among the teams with the 10th-fewest penalties in the league. And yet, the sudden outburst of errors left many puzzled. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged the unusual nature of the game, emphasizing that the offense usually handles snap counts well in practice with minimal errors. "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," Rodgers said.
Rodgers, famous for his intricate and effective hard count, has used this technique to create big plays in the past. Former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams underscored the importance of attention to detail regarding snap counts. "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." His perspective highlights the necessity of maintaining discipline, especially in tightly-contested matches.
An Agonizing Finish
The game reached a bitter climax when kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 50-yard, go-ahead field goal with just 51 seconds left on the clock. The missed opportunity epitomized the Jets' frustrating day, where every misstep compounded into their narrow defeat. The loss leaves the Jets with a 2-2 record, a fair representation of their inconsistent start to the 2024 season.
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly also weighed in, praising Rodgers' use of the hard count as a strategic advantage. "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.'"
This loss could serve as a wakeup call for the Jets, emphasizing the crucial need for enhanced focus and discipline. As Saleh, Rodgers, and Adams intimate, attention to detail and accountability are not just buzzwords but cornerstones for success. Whether this game will stand as an anomaly or signal deeper issues within the team remains to be seen, but as it stands, the Jets will need to regroup and correct their course if they aim to be competitive in the weeks to come.