The Jets’ offense got off to its best start of the season … and then returned to form.
Gang Green scored touchdowns on its first three possessions but then did not score again the rest of the day and lost 33-18 to the Eagles at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
The Jets — who fell to 0-12 all time against the Eagles — are now 3-9, meaning they will have a losing record for the sixth straight season. The Eagles improved to 6-7 and kept their playoff hopes alive.
Philadelphia threw the Jets a curveball with Gardner Minshew starting at quarterback in place of Jalen Hurts, who is dealing with an ankle injury but had been projected to play all week. The Eagles rolled up 418 yards on a Jets defense that had no answers. The Eagles scored on their first seven possessions and did not punt until there was two minutes left in the game.
Early in the game, rookie quarterback Zach Wilson and the offense matched the Eagles. Both teams scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and it looked like the fans at MetLife, including former Jets quarterback Ken O’Brien, would see a shootout reminiscent of O’Brien versus Dan Marino in 1986.
But the Jets’ offense disappeared after scoring its third touchdown of the game in the second quarter. It was not all the offense’s fault as the Jets’ defense could not get the Eagles off the field. The Jets had just three plays and 1:10 of possession in the third quarter.
The Eagles opened the third quarter with a 14-play drive that lasted 8 minutes, 22 seconds and ended with one of Jake Elliott’s four field goals. The Eagles were aided by a few questionable penalty calls, one a pass interference penalty on Bryce Hall on third down and an encroachment call on C.J.Mosley on fourth down. Both calls, and a few others, had Jets coach Robert Saleh screaming at the officials.
Wilson’s hot start cooled off considerably and he threw an interception with 13:02 left in the game to Marcus Epps that ended any hopes the Jets had of winning the game. It was Wilson’s 11th interception of the season and continued his streak of not having a game without a turnover.
Wilson completed 23 of 38 passes for 225 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Minshew went 20-for-25 for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
The first half was an unexpected shootout between the teams. Each team scored a touchdown on its first three drives and the Eagles went into halftime with a 24-18 lead.
Both quarterbacks started off the game hot. Minshew completed his first 11 passes and went 14-for-15 in the first half for 188 yards and two touchdowns, both to tight end Dallas Goedert.
Wilson played his best half of the season to open the game. He went 12 of 14 for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson looked in rhythm early, something he’s struggled with this year. The two touchdowns were his first in the opening half this season.
The Jets opened the game with a 79-yard kickoff return by Braxton Berrios that set the Jets up at the Philadelphia 21. Wilson and the Jets needed five plays to find the end zone with Wilson throwing a 3-yard touchdown to Elijah Moore. Kicker Alex Kessman, signed off the practice squad on Saturday, missed the extra point and the Jets led 6-0.
Minshew answered with a 75-yard, six-play touchdown drive to put Philadelphia up 7-6. He finished it off with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Goedert, who beat Mosley on the play and scored after safety Ashtyn Davis made a poor attempt at tackling him.
The Jets took a 12-7 lead after Wilson scored on a 1-yard run to cap an 11-play drive. Kessman again missed the extra point, keeping the Jets’ kicking woes an ongoing story. The Jets cut Matt Ammendola on Saturday and replaced him with Kessman after Ammendola struggled lately. But Kessman had a brutal first game.
As bad as the kicking game was, the Jets’ defense was worse in the first half. It could do nothing to slow down Minshew and the Eagles. Minshew connected with Goedert again on a 25-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to put the Eagles up 14-12. The Jets gave up 262 yards in the first half, 188 through the air.
The Jets kept the shootout alive with another nice 75-yard drive that was finished off with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to tight end Ryan Griffin on fourth-and-goal. The Jets went for two this time but failed on the conversion and led 18-14 with 9:22 left in the first half. The offense then went dormant.
Kenneth Gainwell ran right through the middle of the Jets’ defense for an 18-yard touchdown with 4:30 left in the half as the Eagles retook the lead, 21-18. The Eagles tacked on a field goal before halftime to lead 24-18.
The Jets have five games left to try to get good vibes going into the offseason, starting with next Sunday’s home game against the Saints.