In his first game back as a starting, Zach Wilson guides the New York Jets in an upset victory over the Texans.
The Jets scored 30 points, which was more than they did in their last three games put together. The Texans (7-6) are in the running for a playoff spot, yet their offense couldn’t score against the Jets’ defense.
“I believe the phrase ‘aggressively smart’ is the most important thing, right?” Wilson told me. “It’s taking shots if you think there’s a chance, and when there isn’t, how can you keep the ball safe and bring it down?” Having both at the same time.”
When the game started, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud led the NFL within passing yards, but the Jets spooked him, and he had trouble because his top two targets and top tight end were all hurt.
Stroud completed 10 out of 23 passes, gaining 91 yards. He left the game in the fourth quarter because he might have hurt his head when it hit the ground. In the first half, it looked like the Jets’ attack would have another bad day.
Together, there were 11 punts and only 10 first downs in the first half, and neither team scored. The Jets flipped things around to begin the second half, going 75 yards on seven plays in the opening drive of the third quarter.
“He balled,” Garrett Wilson said. The dots in the rain and putting it all out there made it hard for them to do their offensive work.
What we were trying to do was taken care of by Zach. That’s always our goal: to take care of things better than they did, and we did.
Zach went crazy today; like I said, he possesses all the trust in us in the world. It’s great to see him, and then just hoop.”
Up until Sunday, the Jets had managed just two offensive scores in one game all year. That was in Week 4 against the Chiefs.
On Sunday, though, they scored scores on back-to-back drives. Xavier Gipson ran for a touchdown from 9 yards out to give the New York Jets a 14-0 lead.
Zach Wilson was on a roll, but near the end for the third quarter he made a mistake that cost the team a lot of points. He ran around middle for 20 yards but lost the ball if Christian Harris punched it out.
The Texans’ Khalil Davis recovered the ball at the Houston 43. Wilson lost his sixth fumble so far this season.
These were the Texans’ lucky breaks. They marched down the field and into Jets’ territory for the first time in the game.
Peace of mind In the end zone, Tony Adams was penalized for pass interference. This gave the Texans the possession at the 1-yard line, where Devin Singletary scored in the second quarter.
Wilson completed 27 out of 36 passes for 301 yards, which was his third game with 300 yards or more. It was by far his best game of the season following sitting out for Tim Boyle, who has since been waived.
For the Jets (5-8), Breece Hall as well as Randall Cobb caught touchdowns and Xavier Gipson ran for a score.
They scored 30 points for the first time since beating Denver 31–21 in Week 5—the second time this season.
Stroud left with 6:30 left in the game when Quinnen Williams hit him. He fell backwards and his head seemed to hit the MetLife Stadium ground.
Before he walked into the locker room, he was checked out quickly on the bench. The Texans told Stroud he was out for the game, as well as Davis Mills took his place.
Stroud had the most passing yards in the NFL going into the game, but the Jets defense was too strong for him to do much.
Before getting hurt, he was only 10 of 23 for 91 yards, which was the fewest yards he had all season.
In the end, the Texans (7-6) only had 135 yards and failed to convert one third down out of twelve chances.
Now, they have to check to see when Stroud is going to be able to play next Sunday against Tennessee, an AFC South foe.
During the first drive for the second half, Wilson found Cobb on a 15-yard touchdown, giving the Jets their first score of the game.
The Jets scored again on their next drive. Wilson handed the ball to Gipson, who ran into the end zone from 9 yards out for a score that made it 14-0, New York’s biggest lead of the season so far. There was 4:31 left within the third quarter.