The good, the bad, and the ugly of NY Jets' Week 5 loss to Vikings

The NY Jets have hit a rough patch with a two-game losing streak as their offense falters. In their overseas trip to London, the Jets’ offense stumbled out of the gate and never found its rhythm.

Meanwhile, the defense held strong, handing the undefeated Minnesota Vikings their most lackluster performance of the season. Let's dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The NY Jets suffered another setback in their Week 5 loss to the Vikings

The Good

Garret Wilson finally got going in this one, as he and Aaron Rodgers connected on 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Wilson ran clean, crisp routes and Rodgers was able to find him down the field, averaging 7.8 yards per catch.

Jamien Sherwood continues to shine, racking up 12 total tackles and a tackle for loss in the game. Per Pro Football Focus, Sherwood ranks as the second-best linebacker in the NFL through five weeks.

Another defensive standout, D.J. Reed has been phenomenal this year. Against the Vikings’ formidable passing game, Reed was targeted 7 times and allowed just 2 catches for 16 yards. As opponents avoid Sauce Gardner, Reed has become a frequent target and has consistently risen to the occasion.

It wasn't just Reed and Sherwood who excelled; the entire defense put on a show. They recorded 15 QB pressures, four sacks, and seven QB hits. Will McDonald contributed with six pressures, two QB hits, and a sack. Leonard Taylor also left his mark with two pressures and a sack, although he struggled in run defense.

The Jets' defense limited the Vikings to 171 passing yards, 82 rushing yards, and 16 points. Given the Vikings' season averages of 227 passing yards, 115 rushing yards, and 27.8 points per game, the Jets’ defense kept them in check.

Xavier Gipson put together another strong performance on special teams, setting up the offense for a crucial scoring opportunity late in the second quarter. With a 31-yard punt return, Gibson positioned the offense at Minnesota's 31-yard line. Five plays and 46 seconds later, the Jets secured their first score of the game, making the score 7-17.

The Bad

Aaron Rodgers struggled, completing only 53.7% of his passes, tossing two touchdowns but also three interceptions. One of those picks was returned for a touchdown, a decisive score in a one-score game.

At times, Rodgers seemed uncertain, double-clutching the ball before releasing it. All three interceptions on Sunday morning were poorly thrown, regardless of any potential miscommunications with the receivers. It's becoming a concerning trend for a QB who has had the only 40+ touchdown and seven or fewer interception season in NFL history.

Despite the defense's strong performance, there were two critical missed opportunities. One came on a fumble recovery, where Quincy Williams had nothing but green grass ahead of him when he tripped and fell, leaving the offense at Minnesota's 42-yard line. Four plays later, the Vikings capitalized with a pick-six.

Another missed opportunity occurred during the Vikings' only offensive touchdown drive. On 1st-and-goal from the two-yard line, Sam Darnold’s pass to Ty Chandler was deflected into the air and struck Sauce Gardner in the chest. Gardner had a chance to create a turnover, but instead, the Vikings scored just four plays later.

Despite Reed's solid coverage, he was flagged for two penalties in passing situations. Post-game, Robert Saleh commented, "I don’t understand them. I need clarification from the NFL officiating team." The officiating was bad, with three DPIs/holding penalties called during the Vikings' lone offensive touchdown drive.

The Ugly

The Jets couldn't manage to secure a first down until their fifth possession with 10 minutes to go in the second quarter. Their first four drives were a nightmare: three-and-out, three-and-out, a pick-six, and an interception. It was an absolutely dreadful start to the game.

Breece Hall finished the day with nine carries for just 23 yards. Over the past two weeks, he's managed 19 carries for a mere 27 yards, averaging only 1.42 yards per carry. Braelon Allen didn't fare much better, finishing with five carries for 13 yards. The run game has been faltering lately, and this trend cannot continue if the Jets hope to turn things around.

Allen Lazard continues to struggle with drops. Against the Vikings, he caught just four of his 10 targets, dropping four passes — one of which would’ve been a touchdown. In 2023, Lazard led the league with a 17.9% drop rate. Unfortunately, he's off to an even worse start in 2024, with a league-high 23.1% drop rate.

Lazard continues to earn targets due to his rapport with Aaron Rodgers and his shared vision on the field. However, if the Jets manage to trade for Las Vegas Raiders' wide receiver Davante Adams, Lazard could find himself sidelined as Adams takes over as Rodgers' go-to target. In such a scenario, Adams, Garrett Wilson, and Mike Williams would all leapfrog Lazard on the depth chart.

The offensive line showed promise earlier this season but has struggled significantly since Morgan Moses' injury. Over the past two weeks, Aaron Rodgers has endured 25 hits and eight sacks.

Rodgers can't keep taking this kind of punishment, but the damage might already be done. The 40-year-old QB is now nursing an injured ankle on the same leg that underwent reconstructive Achilles surgery.

The Jets' offensive play-calling has been among the worst in the league. On a crucial fourth-and-two, they ran Braelon Allen up the middle for no gain — a perplexing decision, especially considering the pistol formation and the back being over nine yards from the first down marker.

The entire offensive scheme feels archaic, lacking pre-snap motion and relying heavily on Aaron Rodgers. Nearly every snap, except those rushed to avoid a review or challenge, sees the play clock wind down to five seconds or less. The strategy seems to be: line up, watch the defense adjust, and then let Rodgers read and respond.

It's too much responsibility for any player, especially one in his forties taking a beating behind a weak offensive line. With 7:30 left in the fourth quarter, the Jets took a delay of game penalty on 1st and goal because Rodgers ran out of time diagnosing the defense. They broke the huddle with 15 seconds left but still couldn't snap the ball in time to avoid the penalty.

The problem has become a persistent issue and speaks to the overall offensive scheme being problematic. And the solution isn't clear-cut. Fans are calling for midseason firings of Saleh and Hackett, but what comes next remains uncertain.

Implementing a new offensive scheme in Week 6 of the NFL season is neither reasonable nor realistic. While passing game coordinator Todd Downing might call better plays, Aaron Rodgers' reaction to such a change is anyone's guess.

The unfortunate reality is that the Jets are likely stuck with the current coaching regime for this season. Saleh's job will depend heavily on the offense's performance, no matter how well the defense performs.

So you're telling me there's a chance...

With the Buffalo Bills' loss to the Houston Texans, the Jets next face the Bills on Monday Night Football for first place in the AFC East. At 2-3, the NY Jets have a chance to take a lead in their division.

At 3-0, analysts were already crowning the Buffalo Bills as Super Bowl champions. Now, after two consecutive losses, the same pundits are dismissing them. Similarly, the Jets were considered Super Bowl contenders after their win against the Patriots, and just two weeks later, people are declaring their season over.

That's the NFL for you. With only 17 games, every single one is crucial. Both Rodgers and Saleh have mentioned how the NFL season is a rollercoaster ride. For fans, the highs and lows are part of the excitement. For better or worse, the season is still ahead for the Jets, with challenging matchups against the Bills and the Steelers in the next two contests.

The AFC East is up for grabs this year, looking weaker than first expected. If the Jets have any postseason hopes, winning the division is crucial. On Monday Night Football, they have the chance to reignite their playoff aspirations or be cast aside as “the same old Jets.”

More NY Jets news and analysis: