The New York Jets experienced a challenging evening at MetLife Stadium, succumbing to a narrow 10-9 defeat against the Denver Broncos. However, the scoreline was just the tip of the iceberg in what proved to be a tumultuous Week 4 for the Jets.
Penalty Problems Plague the Jets
The Jets' downfall was marred by a staggering 13 penalties, the highest for any team in the NFL this week. This undisciplined play saw them drop to a 2-2 record for the 2024 season. Of these 13 infractions, eight were committed by the offense, putting the Jets second in offensive penalties for Week 4, trailing only the Houston Texans.
False starts were particularly problematic, with five of these penalties damaging the Jets' offensive rhythm. Left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall were flagged for two false starts each, while left tackle Tyron Smith was flagged once. This outbreak was surprising, given the Jets had committed only one false start in the entire first three weeks of the season.
Coaching and Player Reactions
Head coach Robert Saleh expressed his frustration and bewilderment with the sudden increase in penalties. "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," he stated.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, known for his meticulous attention to detail, shared his thoughts on the situation, highlighting the unexpected nature of the penalties. "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.
The Impact of Cadence
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly weighed in on the importance of Rodgers' cadence, underscoring its effectiveness. "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 mentioned.
Accountability and Attention to Detail
Davante Adams, once a key target for Rodgers in Green Bay, emphasized the importance of accountability and meticulous preparation. "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 said.
Missed Opportunity
To further compound the Jets' woes, kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a crucial 50-yard field goal that would have given them the lead with just 51 seconds left on the clock. It was a dramatic end to a game plagued by errors that the team will need to address moving forward.
As the Jets reflect on their performance, the emphasis will undoubtedly be on reducing self-inflicted wounds and maintaining their discipline on the field. The hope is that this difficult loss will serve as a catalyst for greater focus and cohesion as they progress through the demanding NFL season.