5 takeaways from NY Jets Week 12 win including Zach Wilson's difficult day

The NY Jets traveled down south to take on the 2-8 Houston Texans in Week 12 and came away with an important road victory in Zach Wilson's first game back from injury.

It was far from a perfect day for Wilson who struggled to get into a rhythm for much of the game. But the Jets managed to pull off the victory to improve to 3-8 on the season.

Wins are wins, no matter how ugly they are. The Jets proved that on Sunday.

Wilson's poor performance shouldn't overshadow an excellent day from the Jets defense with the likes of John Franklin-Myers, Quinnen Williams, and Quincy Williams leading the way for the team's most impressive pass-rush performance since Week 4.

Let's take a look at a few quick takeaways from this week's game.

1. The NY Jets won in spite of Zach Wilson

There's really no dancing around this one — Zach Wilson was really bad in this game. Wilson finished 14-of-24 for 145 yards, a rushing TD, an interception, and a fumble.

He never quite looked comfortable and is lucky to leave this game with just one turnover to his name. He missed open passes to the flats, threw dangerous balls into tight coverage, and was mostly a liability.

The Jets clearly schemed around Wilson on offense, and to their credit, it worked to a degree. All of that being said, it was Wilson's first game back from injury. He's now made just six full starts in his NFL career.

This was a poor performance from the rookie QB. Be it due to mental struggles or just shaking off the rust, Wilson was bad.

The Jets will hope to see him build off a victory nonetheless net week.

2. NY Jets DE John Franklin-Myers earned every penny of his extension

John Franklin-Myers had a few quiet weeks since signing his four-year, $55 million extension earlier this year. He was still an effective player, but the flashy stats weren't there.

That changed on Sunday.

Franklin-Myers was a menace in Week 12 intercepting his own deflection and recording a pair of sacks to go along with a tackle for loss and an additional QB hit.

The former waiver-wire pickup was one of the Jets' best players on either side of the ball and his performance might have single-handedly led the team to victory.

3. Bryce Hall's up-and-down day for the NY Jets

Bryce Hall has been one of the Jets' most consistent players on either side of the ball this season. But he had what was likely his worst game of the year on Sunday.

The second-year cornerback was beaten on a number of occasions early in the game including a 40-yard bomb to Brandin Cooks in the first half that gave the Texans a 7-3 lead.

But when it mattered most, Hall stepped up. With the game on the line, Hall made a crucial deflection on fourth down late in the fourth quarter to seal the game for the Jets.

It was hardly a perfect game, but Hall came through in the clutch.

4. The NY Jets have found their OC of the future in Mike LaFleur

Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur called a phenomenal game on Sunday. Despite incompetent quarterback play for most of the game, LaFleur and the Jets managed to move the ball effectively at times.

Helped in part by an excellent showing from the offensive line (at least when it comes to run blocking) and the running backs, LaFleur and the Jets pounded the ball on the ground and worked around their struggling quarterback.

From the two-point conversion with Josh Johnson to the 4th-and-1 end around to Elijah Moore, LaFleur was in his bag on Sunday.

He's quickly made everyone forget about the premature early-season criticism. Mike LaFleur is the real deal.

5. The NY Jets have issues on special teams

Sunday's game wasn't a banner day for the Jets' special-teams unit. Kicker Matt Ammendola didn't do much to help his job security pulling a 42-yard field-goal wide left in the second half. The kick would have given the Jets a seven-point lead at the time.

He later connected from 37 yards out and finished 2-for-3, but that might not be enough to save his job. Especially with Alex Kessman waiting in the wings on the practice squad.

Ammendola wasn't the only one who struggled, however. For the second consecutive week, Braden Mann shanked a punt, this one coming at a crucial time late in the fourth quarter.

Fortunately, the Jets' defense bailed Mann out, but the second-year punter has looked very shaky since returning from injury.

Throw in Justin Hardee failing to down a punt short of the goal line in the fourth quarter as well and special-teams coordinator Brant Boyer will have plenty to be unhappy about this week.