3 quick thoughts from the NY Jets Week 13 loss to the Eagles

Following last week’s victory over the Houston Texans, the NY Jets fell to the Philadelphia Eagles 33-18.

A step in the right direction for Zach Wilson and the NY Jets offense

While the stats might not jump off the page, Zach Wilson and the Jets’ offense needs to be graded on a curve in this matchup. Not only did the rookie finish the day 23-for-38 for 226 yards and three total touchdowns, but the unit was able to get the ball into Philadelphia territory on all but two possessions.

“I thought this was by far his best game in terms of just working progression and playing within the scheme,” head coach Robert Saleh said after the game. “I wish we could’ve kept him in rhythm there in the second half.”

While much has been made all season about the Jets’ slow starts, the offense came out like a house on fire and scored a touchdown on their first three possessions.

There is enough reason to believe if the Jets (3-9) had more opportunities with the ball in the second half this outcome could have been much different.

A terrible day for the NY Jets defense

If one is looking to blame anybody for this loss, the finger can go right towards Gang Green’s defense. Despite facing backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, the Eagles’ offense did whatever it wanted all day to the tune of 418 total yards as they scored on every possession but one.

“First half clearly wasn’t good enough,” Saleh said. “Second half, I thought we came out and showed some fight, a lot of self-inflicted wounds on some of those third and fourth down calls.”

It is hard to win any game when the opposing team dominates the time of possession and every time the defense comes off the field the hole gets deeper. It is also not every day the Jets can get out to such a hot start so when the opportunity arises the defense has to do its part too.

A kicking crisis for the NY Jets

A couple of days after releasing shaky kicker Matt Ammendola, the Jets appear to have found somebody much worse in Alex Kessman.

While it took Gang Green 11 games to realize Ammendola could not man the position at a high level, it took them two missed extra points to find out Kessman cannot either.

“I didn’t do my job today,” Kessman said. “I’m not going to let two kicks define me.”

Assuming Kessman is on his way with the likes of Kaare Vedvik and Sam Ficken, the turnstile of Jets kickers over the years will continue.

Although Gang Green’s problems go far beyond the kicking position, it is hard to believe on a planet with billions of people they cannot find one person who can consistently put the ball through the uprights.