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This time it was Jets fans left seeing ghosts by the Patriots.
With rookie quarterback Zach Wilson throwing four interceptions, there had to be visions of Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith and Sam Darnold dancing in their heads. Wilson became the latest Jets would-be savior to be left looking silly by Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
New England rolled to a 25-6 victory over a Jets team that got strong outings in several facets of the game early but could not overcome Wilson’s miscues.
The loss drops the Jets to 0-2 for the third straight year and the home fans were booing the team in the second half. The Patriots moved to 1-1, avoiding their first 0-2 start since 2001. It was the 11th straight time the Jets have lost to the Patriots.
Unlike Week 1, there was nothing good for Wilson to take away from this one. He went 19 of 33 for 210 yards with the four interceptions for a QB rating of 37.0. His first two passes were both interceptions. He became the first Jets quarterback to throw four interceptions since 2019, when Darnold threw four against the Patriots and famously said he was “seeing ghosts.” The Patriots scored 16 points following Wilson’s turnovers.
Making things worse, Patriots rookie Mac Jones, taken by the Patriots 13 picks after Wilson, had a strong performance. He was not flashy, but made good decisions and was accurate. He finished the day 22-of-30 for 186 yards.
For Wilson, things started bad — and got worse.
Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson picked off Wilson’s first pass. Linebacker Ja’Whuan Bentley came on a delayed blitz on the play and Wilson forced a throw to Corey Davis. Jackson tipped the ball in the air and then caught it after falling to the ground. The Patriots turned the turnover into a 46-yard field goal from former Jet Nick Folk.
On the next possession, Wilson rolled out and was picked off by safety Adrian Phillips. Wilson rolled to his right on the play and had a wide open Elijah Moore in front of him but opted instead for a harder throw to Davis. The throw was high, but should have been caught by Davis. Instead it sailed through his hands and Phillips grabbed it at the New England 28.
The Patriots marched 72 yards in six plays, a drive that was capped off by a 7-yard James White touchdown.
While the first two interceptions had explanations, the next two did not. The third interception was an ill-advised throw in the second quarter toward Moore that Jackson picked off.
The final interception came in the third quarter. Devin McCourty got this one. Wilson just threw the ball up for grabs. It was hard to figure out exactly who he was throwing it to. There were Patriots all around the ball, and McCourty came down with it.
Two plays later, Patriots running back Damien Harris ran through the Jets defense for a 26-yard touchdown. Harris broke at least six tackles on the run and dragged a few Jets defenders into the end zone with him.
The horror show from Wilson overwhelmed any other good that the Jets had in the game. But the defense played OK and the beleaguered offensive line had a nice bounce back game. The Jets had a good day running the ball, gaining 152 yards.
The Jets now must travel to Denver to face the Broncos next week, hoping Wilson can have a better showing there.
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