The New York Jets were optimistic coming into their Week 9 Monday Night Football showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. They were playing at home against a team with one of the worst pass defenses in the league.
But after 60 minutes of action, the Jets never soared as two Greg Zuerlein field goals kept them from getting shut out. The Chargers cruised to a 27-6 victory, and the Jets never threatened a comeback. Both teams are at 4-4 after the one-sided game.
Jets defense did their part in hopes of getting a victory
While the Chargers had 27 points on the board, the Jets' defense has been as impressive as they could have been. They gave Justin Herbert a hard time, allowing him to finish with 16 completions for 136 yards and zero touchdowns. They also had five sacks and 13 hits on the 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Furthermore, the Chargers had 191 total yards and had fewer first downs (14) than the Jets (17). However, the Jets couldn’t capitalize on opportunities that could turn the momentum in their favor. Still, they limited the Chargers to two Austin Ekeler rushing touchdowns on offense. But while they did their part, the other unit didn’t show up.
Jets offense struggled against Chargers playmakers
Conversely, Zach Wilson and the Nathaniel Hackett-led offense didn’t pull their weight in this game, especially in third down, wherein they converted only three of 17 opportunities. They were also tagged with eight violations for 40 penalty yards.
What a disappointing loss for Jets, and it’s on their offense. They looked:
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) November 7, 2023
-unprepared
-unaggressive
-got out toughed
-TE’s lost blocks that would’ve been big runs
-multiple crucial penalties
-crucial mistakes (fumble/fumble/drops)
-OL overmatched in pass 1st game
Wilson had better numbers than Herbert, but some of his 263 passing yards were registered when the game was out of reach. The Jets’ patchwork offensive line also caused trouble as coordinator Derrick Ansley's crew connected on eight sacks and eight quarterback hits.
Two of those sacks came in succession when the Jets were already at the Chargers’ 11-yard line early in the third quarter. They lost 17 yards, forcing head coach Robert Saleh to call for a field goal. Meanwhile, the Jets were on the Chargers’ six-yard line with less than a minute left in the game. They failed to cross the end zone by missing out on their next three plays.
Jets schedule doesn’t get easier
After the Chargers, the Jets will face the Las Vegas Raiders and the Buffalo Bills on the road in consecutive weeks. The Raiders are in high spirits after winning against the New York Giants in Week 9, giving interim head coach Antonio Pierce a victory in his debut.
Meanwhile, the Bills remain a contender despite losing to the Cincinnati Bengals. After those games, the Jets will host the Miami Dolphins, featuring Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That’s three high-powered offenses that the Jets offense must compete with to avoid a losing streak.
-Lance Fernandez