Jets Fall to Broncos: A Home Defeat Clouded by Penalties
The New York Jets were dealt a difficult loss at home, narrowly losing 10-9 to the Denver Broncos. This Week 4 encounter also marked a troubling milestone for the Jets, who committed an NFL-high 13 penalties, eight of which came from the offense. This highlights a concerning spike in infractions for a team that previously only had eight offensive penalties in the first three weeks, tying for the 10th-fewest in the league.
Despite the setback, the Jets remain at a 2-2 record for the 2024 season. However, the nature of the defeat has raised critical questions about the team's discipline and preparation, particularly with regards to their offensive line.
A Crescendo of Mistakes
Five of the offensive penalties in this game were due to false starts, signaling possible issues with cadence and communication. Standout offenders included left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall, both flagged for two false starts, while left tackle Tyron Smith was flagged for one. "Cadence had not been an issue all camp,” head coach Robert Saleh lamented. “Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back."
The Jets' offensive unit found itself surprisingly out of sync, an outlier compared to past performances. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers noted, “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." The contrast between their practice discipline and in-game mishaps remains a perplexing issue.
Missed Opportunities
Compounding their struggles was a crucial missed opportunity to clinch the game. With 51 seconds left on the clock, kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 50-yard field goal that could have put the Jets ahead. The miss punctuated an already frustrating day marked by penalties and missed chances. Despite the gloomy outcome, Rodgers emphasized the need for accountability over drastic changes: "Sometimes that's what you have to do versus run from it. Have certain consequences if guys can't get right."
Voices of Experience
The reverberations from this game were not lost on former NFL players who understand the intricacies of the game’s cadence. Former linebacker Luke Kuechly praised Rodgers' hard count as a potent tool, highlighting its past successes: "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.'" This sentiment underscores the importance of discipline and the potential rewards when it is executed flawlessly.
Davante Adams, a former receiver for the Green Bay Packers, echoed similar sentiments about the critical nature of 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," Adams explained. The urgency to tighten their pre-snap operations without hastily altering effective strategies was evident in his remarks.
As the Jets move forward from this loss, the challenge lies in rectifying these uncharacteristic errors. A historically disciplined team, their ability to rebound will hinge on addressing these internal lapses without overhauling what has, until now, been an otherwise solid operational structure. Whether they can navigate these turbulent waters remains to be seen, but the guidance from seasoned voices and leaders like Rodgers might be the steadiness they need.