NY Jets: 10 winners and losers from Week 1 loss to Panthers

The NY Jets started off their season in uninspiring fashion falling to the Carolina Panthers by a final score of 19-14. That's not to say there weren't a few positive takeaways, however.

It really was a tale of two halves for the Jets as, after limping to a 16-0 deficit in the first half, Gang Green outscored their opponents 14-3 in the second half.

Unfortunately, it was too little, too late as Sam Darnold and the Panthers were able to hold on for the Week 1 victory. Was it a picture-perfect Darnold/Robby Anderson revenge game? Probably not, although Darnold did have his moments.

The former Jets quarterback finished 24-of-35 for 279 yards and a touchdown. That stat line likely looks a bit better than he actually played with the return of star running back Christian McCaffrey playing a major factor, but Darnold did what he had to do to win.

In reality, the same could probably be said for Zach Wilson who finished strong with an excellent second-half performance. But despite Wilson's attempted heroics, the Jets couldn't rally for the come-from-behind victory.

There's plenty of room for improvement with this Jets team. But at the very least, they played a mostly competitive game of football to start the season. That's an improvement from last year.

Let's take a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Jets' Week 1 loss to the Panthers.

NY Jets Winner: Zach Wilson

The Jets' success rested on Zach Wilson in Week 1. In the first half, Wilson struggled to a tune of 6-for-16 in the air with an interception and zero offensive points scored. But in the second half, it was a different story.

Wilson finished 14-of-21 for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers in the second half as the Jets outscored their opponents 14-3. All things considered, this was an excellent debut for the rookie.

Wilson was pressured on a whopping 40 percent of his dropbacks. He was sacked six times and hit a total of 11 times. Most of the pressure came from simple four-man fronts too with the Jets' offensive line struggling to contain a talented Panthers front-seven.

But Wilson did his part. As long as the Jets could keep him upright, the future does, indeed, look bright for the former BYU star.

NY Jets Loser: The offensive line

About that offensive line, though. Man, that was rough. The Jets' offensive line was abused by a Panthers pass rush that started off hot and never slowed down.

In the first half, it was George Fant who got victimized the most, although really every player had their moments of ineptitude.

Mekhi Becton allowed a sack before exiting in the third quarter. Alijah Vera-Tucker was dropped on his back by Haason Reddick in a welcome-to-the-NFL moment. Connor McGovern and Greg Van Roten struggled to react to stunts all game long.

This was bad — really bad. If the Jets are going to have any hope of offensive success, the pass protection must be much, much better.

NY Jets Winner: Corey Davis

One thing seems very clear about this Jets offense. Zach Wilson has a favorite target, and his name is Corey Davis.

The Wilson/Davis connection was on display a little in the preseason, but it was really in this game that it became clear how much the teammates are on the same page.

Davis finished with a team-leading five catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns. The second of which was a quick out route in the end zone where Wilson's pass left his hands before Davis had even turned his head.

Timing routes like that take trust. Wilson already has that trust in Davis and we're one game into the season. It could be a big year for the former fifth overall pick.

NY Jets Loser: Denzel Mims

What has happened to Denzel Mims? Even with Jamison Crowder and Keelan Cole sidelined for this game, Mims hardly managed to get on the field.

When he was out there, however, he made the most of it. Mims only received three offensive snaps, but one of which he managed to haul in a 40-yard grab from Wilson in the fourth quarter.

But it's telling that it took until the fourth quarter for Mims to see the field, even with two of the team's top wide receivers out. Braxton Berrios played 33 offensive snaps. Jeff Smith played nine. You could count Mims' snaps on one hand.

With Crowder and Cole likely to return next week, it's hard to see a scenario where Mims is even dressed, let alone a part of the receiver rotation. He remains as buried on the depth chart as anyone on the Jets roster.

NY Jets Winner: Matt Ammendola

The Jets might have found their kicker and punter. When Braden Mann exited in the first quarter with a seemingly serious knee injury, few could have expected what his replacement, Matt Ammendola, would do in his place.

Ammendola still hasn't attempted an NFL kick. But the former undrafted free agent might have found a role as an NFL punter. Ammendola averaged nearly 50 yards per punt including a booming 67-yarder that pinned the Panthers back within their 15-yard line.

Credit to the punt coverage team too as they made Ammendola's job even easier. The Justin Hardee signing is already paying off — he's easily the best gunner on the Jets' roster, and likely one of the best in the league.

It remains to be seen how serious Mann's injury is. But if he's forced to miss anytime, it's hard to argue that the Jets shouldn't just roll with Ammendola at both spots given what we saw in Week 1.

NY Jets Loser: Quinnen Williams

Quinnen Williams missed the entire summer as he was recovering from a broken foot suffered in the offseason. It's understandable that his first game back was underwhelming.

But that doesn't make it any less disappointing.

Facing a poor Panthers interior offensive line in Week 1, many saw Williams as a player who could dominate on Sunday. Instead, he was a relative non-factor as the likes of Pat Elflein, Matt Paradis, and Dennis Daley shut him down.

Again, Williams missed a lot of time this summer, so his slow start shouldn't be shocking. But the Jets would have loved to see more from him on Sunday.

NY Jets Winner: Marcus Maye

Marcus Maye had a quietly excellent game in Week 1. The standout safety finished with a team-leading eight tackles and made a number of fantastic plays in important situations.

He laid down the hit stick on tight end Dan Arnold in the first quarter to force a fourth down after the veteran tight end hauled in a pass in the flats. He had a key pass breakup working against rookie Terrace Marshall in the third quarter to once again force fourth down.

And in the fourth quarter, Maye once again stopped Marshall short of the line in the red zone with a superb tackle. Maye made plays at opportune times — those eight tackles were hard-earned.

With his contract situation still hanging over the head of the organization, Maye made a strong case to be extended on Sunday.

NY Jets Loser: Mekhi Becton

Mekhi Becton lands on this list as a "loser" not necessarily because of his play on the field, but because of the play that took him off the field.

On the very same play that Zach Wilson found Corey Davis in the corner of the end zone for his first career touchdown pass, Becton had his knee rolled up. Initially, everyone undoubtedly feared the worst.

Fortunately, it appears as though Becton dodged a season-ending injury with initial tests revealing an MCL sprain and nothing more.

For that reason, there's some solace to take from this. However, with Becton still likely set to miss 1-2 months, it's hard to argue he doesn't belong in this spot on the list, through no fault of his own.

NY Jets Winner: The cornerbacks

Despite the offense's struggles for most of the game, the Jets' defense actually held their own. And more importantly, the Jets cornerbacks did their part against a very talented group of wide receivers.

Brandin Echols and Michael Carter II received the start alongside Bryce Hall at cornerback, and all three players did a good job of limiting the Panthers' passing production.

Carter likely played the best as he had a couple of excellent pass breakups including a beauty of a deflection working against Terrace Marshall in the first quarter. Even Javelin Guidry had his moments as he rotated with Carter in the slot.

The Jets should be pleased with the play of their young cornerbacks in Week 1. Let's see what happens when they face a quarterback who might be able to take advantage of them more in the future.

NY Jets Loser: The running game

The Jets' offensive line didn't just fail to protect their young quarterback, they also weren't able to open up any running lanes all game long.

The Jets finished with just 40 rushing yards on 17 carries for a lowly average of 2.4 yards per carry in Week 1. None of Tevin Coleman, Ty Johnson, or Michael Carter could get anything going on the ground.

And it's hard to place the fault on them either. The Jets' offensive line was dominated up front and the lack of a running game forced the team to become one-dimensional at times.

The Jets must figure out ways to work around their offensive line. Otherwise, it's going to be a long season for both Zach Wilson and the team's running backs.