NFL Week 2 New York Jets Vs. Green Bay Packers Quick Hits

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Jets wide receiver

(87) signals a first down after making a catch in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets had their chances today, could have won it, but fell to the Packers 31-24.  They head to Monday Night Football 1-1.  What happened? Here are the quick hits:

1) The Jets looked like the best team in the league after their 1st 3 drives leading 21-3 – The Jets had 110 yards rushing in the 1st half and 103 yards passing. Geno Smith was 10/14 for 103 yards with a touchdown passing and rushing and an interception that will be talked about later. Jeremy Kerley had a 39 yard run off of a pitch on a option play. Eric Decker had 3 catches for 49 yards including a 29 yard touchdown. Defensively Coples and Demario Davis had sacks and Sheldon Richardson recovered a botched snap. The back end was holding up and things looked almost easy.

2) The Packers slowly crawled back into the game – The Packers scored on their next 3 drives, all over 10 plays, to get the score to 21-16 at halftime. Rodgers was 16/30 for 183 yards with a touchdown. Rodgers had 4 scrambles for 30 yards that all went for 1st downs and were crushing. Other than that the Packers had 11 yards rushing between Lacy and Cobb. Jordy Nelson was spectacular with 4 catches for 66 yards and a pass interference call drawn on Antonio Allen. The Jets pass rush got to the quarterback less as the half went on. Walls and Allen did well other than their work on Nelson. Missed tackles were also an issue.

3) The 14 point swing going into the half – The Jets were on the Packer 27 yard line and Smith was about to throw to a wide open Zach Sudfeld at the 10 yard line when Smith was hit causing the ball to hang in the air and Williams out-muscled Sudfeld for the ball. The Packers started with the ball at the Jets 2 and 1:52 left. The then marched 97 yards against an exhausted defense and scored. Just like that it felt like the Jets were losing instead of up 5 and that all their good work was for naught.

4) The Green Bay momentum carries over into the 2nd half and the Jets melt down completely – After the teams traded punts for the 1st two possessions of the 3rd quarter the Packers went on an 8 play drive that resulted in a touchdown and on a completed two point conversion a fight broke out where Muhammad Wilkerson completely lost it and threw punches resulting in his ejection. The frustration of not being able to get off the field got to the Jets and they were not able to control their emotions. There is no excuse for this. On the ensuing possession Jordy Nelson caught an 80 yard touchdown on Dee Milliner and Calvin Pryor took an awful angle. A 12 men on the field penalty wiped out a Aaron Rodgers interception that would have given the Jets the ball at the Green Bay 25 at the end of the 3rd quarter. The Jets had a tying touchdown wiped out by Marty Mornhinweg calling a timeout that shouldn’t have been allowed under the rules.

5) Packers use Jordy Nelson’s athleticism, and other receiver’s slants and crossing routes to pick apart Jets – The Packers used Jordy Nelson on the boundary and Davonte Adams and Randall Cobb to move the chains with quick slants or crossing routes. Jordy Nelson was the one who the Jets had no answer for as he had more than 190 yards, including an 80 yard touchdown. Darrin Walls couldn’t do it, Antonio Allen couldn’t and Dee Milliner couldn’t cover Nelson. Calvin Pryor took some bad angles in the game, especially on the Nelson touchdown.

6) Geno Smith ineffective in the 2nd half – After a 10/14 start Geno Smith finished 16/31. That’s 6/15. His balls were sailing high and to the outside. He did not have Decker for most of the half and a touchdown was wiped out by an incorrect whistle but he needed to be better. The running game was stuffed and Smith could not put the team on his back.

7) Injuries – Eric Decker left with a hamstring injury in the 3rd quarter. Sheldon Richardson left the game before halftime with a leg injury. Richardson returned in the 2nd half. TJ Barnes, Josh Bush, IK Enemkpali, Walter Powell, Dakota Dozier, AJ Edds and Ben Ijalana were all inactive.