The New York Jets experienced the sweet taste of victory in front of their home crowd and are back in the win column after a painful 5-game losing streak, taking down the shorthanded Houston Texans, 21-13, on Thursday night.
This Halloween night had a bunch of unwanted tricks for Jets fans to begin with, however, by the time the game was over, it ended up being a treat when the final whistle blew, and it was thanks in large part to the sticky hands of Garrett Wilson, who made not one, but two highlight-worthy one-handed touchdown grabs to spearhead the Jets’ offense.
The most memorable one of the night came on what seemed to be an impossible third-and-19 for the Jets on the Texans’ 26-yard line when quarterback Aaron Rodgers launched a moon ball high in the sky down the left sideline.
Wilson, with Kamari Lassiter draped all over him like a straight jacket in the end zone, leaped and snagged the ball with one hand to the amazement of the MetLife Stadium crowd. However, he was initially ruled out of bounds with his two feet not being in the black-painted end zone, but interim coach Jeff Ulbrich challenged.
Upon video review, it was determined that Wilson’s shin was in bounds with possession of the football, which gave the Jets a 14-10 lead after the extra point was made by new kicker Riley Patterson who was replacing Greg Zuerlein who is on IR.
“Oh, my goodness,” Ulbrich said. “I mean, I was talking to the ref when they were reviewing it. I was like, ’Just for the sake of posterity, you have to say that’s in just so it goes down in history.”
Wilson’s first touchdown of the night also came in the second half, as the Jets were in desperate need of some offense after putting up a goose egg in the first thirty minutes.
On second-and-12 from Houston’s 21, Rodgers, under pressure in the pocket, slung a pass to Wilson, who had established separation on his Texans defender. He reached with his right hand out and caught it with nobody in front of him for the 21-yard score.
“I just kind of lobbed one up there and he made an unbelievable catch,” Rodgers said. “That was a huge play. … That’s a game-changing play.”
Wilson’s catch drew comparisons to former Giants great Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-handed grab against their arch rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in 2014.
Embed from Getty Images“For it to even come up in that convo, I’m blessed,” Wilson said. “I’m honored.”
Wilson finished his once in a lifetime night with 90 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches to lead the Jets.
This was the spark the Jets needed, having come into this game 2-6 after being upset by the struggling New England Patriots 25-22 four day earlier. The first half was not pretty and saw tons of boos raining down from the stands and even a chant of “Sell the team!” which was directed at owner Woody Johnson, who was in his suite.
One of the main culprits was the lack of production on offense, but also an inexcusable mistake by rookie receiver Malachi Corley, who had his first career touchdown called back because he decided to release the football at the one-yard line.
It has been done too many times at every level in football history, and Corley added to it, as the Jets’ only productive drive resulted in a touchback and the Texans ball instead.
However, the Jets’ defense made up for it as C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ offense had trouble finding their rhythm all night long.
Other than half back Joe Mixon setting the tone in the run game with 106 yards on 24 carries, Stroud missing Stefon Diggs, who is out for the rest of the season (ACL) and Nico Collins, his top two targets who are out with injury, clearly hurt.
Stroud did connect with Tank Dell for six catches for 126 yards, and Mixon was able to get into the end zone in the second quarter for the first half’s only points, but that was all the Texans had in the tank.
The dagger came late in the fourth quarter, as Rodgers finally found his old teammate and friend Davante Adams in the end zone on a beautifully-thrown fade for a 37-yard touchdown. Adams had come back out onto the field after undergoing concussion tests.
Stroud refused to surrender and tried to lead the Texans to an impossible comeback, but an onside kick was recovered by Adams to seal the win.
Stroud was 11 of 30 for 191 yards and was sacked eight times for the Texans (6-3). It was the first of three consecutive prime-time games for the Texans, with a Sunday night home matchup against on November 10 next and a Monday night meeting at Dallas on November 18.
“It’s embarrassing to come out here in a prime-time game and get embarrassed like that is never fun,” Stroud said. “We have to be better in a lot of areas and that starts with me. There are plays I’ve got to make throws; I’ve got to make.”
Rodgers finished the game 22-of-32 passing for 211 yards with his three touchdown passes and no interceptions.
The Texans host Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions on “Sunday Night Football” on November 10.
The Jets are on the road to take on Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Arizona Cardinals on November 10.
