NY Jets studs, duds following the loss to the Jaguars in Week 16

Sigh... that was tough to watch. The NY Jets lost in horrible fashion to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football by a score of 19-3.

In the Jets' lone primetime game of the year, which they needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, it just so happened that they played their worst game of the season. Let’s take a look at the studs and duds from this week's game.

Quinnen Williams, DT, NY Jets - STUD

It seemed as if Quinnen Williams was the only player who cared that the Jets' season was on the line. Williams started the game off with a bang with a strip sack on Trevor Lawrence that set the offense up in great field position.

Williams is now up to 12 sacks on the season. Playing on a snap count while still dealing with a calf injury, Williams still managed to make multiple plays, including an impressive pass breakup on a screen pass.

There was a lot of bad in this loss, but there is no doubt the Jets' best player showed up for the biggest game of the season.

Sauce Gardner, CB, NY Jets - STUD

Sauce Gardner had another impressive game this week. In 37 coverage snaps, Gardner was targeted twice, allowing only one catch for 23 yards.

The Jets cannot ask for much more than what they are getting from Gardner. He is having an amazing rookie season, and along with Quinnen Williams, he will hopefully be a foundational piece for a really good Jets defense for years to come.

Zach Wilson, QB, NY Jets - DUD

This might be the last time Zach Wilson plays for the Jets. Wilson only completed 9-of-18 passes for 92 yards and an interception.

With the Jets' season on the line, they were forced to bench the number two overall pick from just two years ago and play a quarterback who has spent all season on the practice squad.

If Mike White can play in the final two games, that is most likely the end of Wilson’s time as a Jets quarterback. Wilson finished with the Jets' worst grade from Pro Football Focus with a 30.2 grade.

NY Jets Offensive Line - DUD

Despite the bad quarterback play, the Jets' offensive line has struggled as of late. The Jaguars had three sacks and seven quarterback hits. The Jets could not get the running game going either, having only 66 rushing yards, with 54 coming from Chris Streveler.

Connor McGovern had a particularly rough day, allowing five pressures, three hurries, and two sacks. McGovern had the worst pass-blocking grade on the team from PFF with a 29.9 grade.

Big-money free agent Laken Tomlinson has had a disappointing first year with the team. Losing Alijah Vera-Tucker might have been a bigger loss than Breece Hall.

NY Jets Coaching - DUD

It was very disappointing to see how flat the Jets came out in this game. There was just no life from either side of the ball for most of the game. You would never be able to tell that they were playing to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Jets players and fans only started to get into the game when they benched Zach Wilson for Chris Streveler, which Robert Saleh pulled the trigger on too late. There is no reason why Wilson was still the quarterback coming out of the first half.

Wilson was obviously rattled and in his head about everything, the body language from his teammates was not great and the fans were booing him every time he took the field. There was just no way it was going to work, so why even try it again?

Overall

In what was otherwise a fun season to watch, the last month has been pretty rough. After starting 5-2, they are now 7-8, with their playoff hopes likely dead. But what’s even more disappointing than that is the sad reality of Zach Wilson.

After the rough 2020 season, it was so important that the Jets get a quarterback of the future. With the new coaching staff, lots of draft picks and cap space, everything lined up perfectly. The Jets drafted Wilson, and they, along with fans and everyone else, had such high hopes.

To see that now, not even two years later, his Jets career might be over is crushing. Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh will have to find a veteran quarterback to lead this team next season, and they have a lot of pressure because they will likely not get another chance.

The Jets will travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks next week.