The New York Jets experienced another disheartening setback on their home turf, narrowly losing 10-9 to the Denver Broncos. This defeat drops the Jets to a 2-2 record for the 2024 season and raises significant concerns about their offensive discipline, particularly the number of penalties committed.
A Costly Lack of Discipline
In an error-laden game, the Jets committed a staggering 13 penalties, the highest in the NFL for Week 4. Out of these, eight were attributed to the offense, making the Jets the second-most penalized offense this week, trailing only the Houston Texans. This upcoming issue marks a significant departure from the first three weeks of the season, where the Jets had only eight offensive penalties, tying them for the 10th-fewest in the league.
The primary culprit for these infractions was the false start penalty, which plagued the Jets five times. Left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall were each flagged twice, while left tackle Tyron Smith added another false start to the mix. This surge in penalties came as a shock, given that the Jets had committed only one false start in the first three games of the season.
Head Coach Robert Saleh's Take
Head coach Robert Saleh expressed his frustration and confusion post-game, suggesting that the cadence, which had not been an issue throughout the training camp, was a significant factor in the defeat. “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 explained.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Accountability
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers echoed Saleh's sentiments but took a more reflective approach, emphasizing the need for accountability without overreacting to what he perceived as an outlier game. “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 stated.
Insight from Former NFL Players
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly praised Aaron Rodgers' hard count, recalling the impact it had for former Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson. “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,’” Kuechly recounted.
Similarly, former Packers receiver Davante Adams highlighted the importance of attention to detail and holding teammates accountable. “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 stated.
Missed Opportunity
As if the penalty woes weren't enough, the Jets had a golden opportunity to clinch the game with 51 seconds left. However, kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a crucial 50-yard field goal that would have put the Jets ahead. This missed opportunity encapsulated the Jets' struggles during the game and left fans with a bitter taste.
The Jets need to address these issues promptly if they are to make a significant impact this season. Penalties and missed opportunities have already cost them a key win, and with challenging games ahead, the margin for error is minimal. Both Robert Saleh and Aaron Rodgers will need to lead their team with a renewed focus on discipline and execution to prevent further such demoralizing losses.