Jets Suffer Narrow Loss to Broncos Amidst Penalties
The New York Jets experienced a disheartening 10-9 defeat at home against the Denver Broncos, plagued by an unusually high number of penalties. Sunday's loss not only evened the Jets' record to 2-2 for the 2024 season but also raised significant concerns over their discipline and offensive coherence.
Head coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Aaron Rodgers found themselves grappling with an uncharacteristic issue: an NFL-high 13 penalties in Week 4, eight of which were offensive. "We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence," Saleh lamented after the game. "Obviously today took a major step back."
The Jets' offense was particularly troubled by false starts, committing five such infractions. This statistical anomaly was highlighted by left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall, each responsible for two false starts, while left tackle Tyron Smith committed one. To put this into perspective, the Jets had only one false start over the first three weeks of the season.
"That's one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable," Rodgers commented, reflecting on the need for immediate improvements. "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."
Indeed, the frequency of these penalties seems out of character for a team that tied for the 10th-fewest offensive penalties in the league from Weeks 1 to 3. The staggering sharp increase was something even Rodgers termed an "outlier game."
More disconcerting was the impact these penalties had on the Jets' final moments in the game. Greg Zuerlein's missed 50-yard field goal attempt with just 51 seconds remaining epitomized the team's struggles. This missed opportunity dashed the Jets' hopes of clinching a narrow victory and underscored the high-stakes nature of each penalty.
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly spoke to the broader implications of the Jets' offensive rhythm issues. "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 recalled, emphasizing the long-standing effectiveness of Rodgers' cadence. Yet, in this game, it appeared to work against them.
Former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams added further context, stressing the importance of detail 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," Adams explained. "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."
The Jets will undoubtedly need to address these lapses in discipline if they hope to reassert themselves in the coming weeks. While Game 4’s penalties may represent an outlier, the drive to ensure it remains so will be crucial for the team's trajectory this season. As Saleh and Rodgers ponder over their next steps, the focus will firmly be on refining operations and restoring the offensive unit's cohesion.