The New York Jets suffered a heart-wrenching defeat at home, falling 10-9 to the Denver Broncos in a game marred by penalties and missed opportunities. The loss drops the Jets to an even 2-2 record for the 2024 season, casting shadows over what seemed like a strong start.
A Penalty-Ridden Performance
The Jets set an unwanted benchmark with an NFL-high 13 penalties during their Week 4 matchup, a statistic that undoubtedly played a significant role in their narrow defeat. Out of those 13 penalties, eight were committed by the offense, earning them the dubious distinction of being the second-most penalized unit of the week, just behind the Houston Texans.
Head coach Robert Saleh did not mince words when addressing the team's penalty woes. "We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence. Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back," Saleh noted with evident frustration.
Breakdown of Offense Penalties
The offensive line particularly struggled with false starts, committing five of them. Left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall were the primary culprits, each flagged for two false start violations. Left tackle Tyron Smith contributed to the tally with one false start. This sudden surge in pre-snap errors was uncharacteristic for a team that had only one false start in the first three weeks of the season.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers expressed his disbelief at the offense's uncharacteristic performance. "That's one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable. We haven't had an issue. We've only had one false start. [Right tackle] Morgan had one false start, I believe, until this. You know, it's been a weapon. We use it every day in practice. We rarely have a false start. To have five today, it seemed like, four or five. Yeah, it seems like an outlier. I don't know if we need to make mass changes based on kind of an outlier game," Rodgers commented, suggesting that this lapse may be an anomaly rather than a trend.
The Impact of Hard Count
The efficacy of Rodgers' infamous hard count came under scrutiny following the game. Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly elucidated on Rodgers' strategic use of the hard count, quoting, "He nailed it: 'my hard count is a weapon.' The amount of big plays, go ask Jordy Nelson. 'Hey Jordy, do you think the hard count that Aaron Rodgers has is effective?' He would say, 'Yeah, I got paid a lot of money on go balls that Aaron threw me after a defensive lineman jumped offsides.'" Yet, despite its potential, the hard count seemed to work against the Jets this time.
Focus on Accountability
Former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams, who enjoyed significant success with Rodgers, emphasized the importance of focus and accountability. "Aaron is all about the attention to detail. So, snap count, that's attention to detail. You got to be locked in on something like that. We always talked about in Green Bay 'that the play is hard enough to win on its own, so let's not lose it pre-snap.' ... At least let's get our pre-snap operation smooth.' Everybody hears the same snap count in the huddle, so there's really no excuse for one of these things. Holding people accountable, I agree (with Rodgers). Sometimes that's what you have to do versus run from it. Have certain consequences if guys can't get right," Adams reflected, underlining the need for discipline.
Missed Opportunities
Adding to the frustration was kicker Greg Zuerlein's failed attempt at a 50-yard, go-ahead field goal with just 51 seconds left on the clock. The miss sealed the Jets' fate, leaving them one point short of a victory.
The Jets now find themselves at a crucial juncture in their season. While the penalties and missed field goal are glaring issues that need to be addressed, the team will also need to reassess their overall strategy and mental toughness. With heavyweights waiting in the upcoming fixtures, the Jets must quickly regroup and realign their focus, ensuring that such lapses remain an outlier.