The New York Jets had a rough outing against the Dallas Cowboys (2-0) on Sunday afternoon, losing 30-10 thanks in large part to their stagnant offense. In their first game without Aaron Rodgers, Gang Green came out flat on both sides of the ball in the road-opening loss. Third-year quarterback Zach Wilson has struggled mightily in relief of Rodgers, and Sunday afternoon was no different. The New York Jets (1-1) couldn’t generate anything on offense since they struggled to move the ball.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott carved up the stacked Jets defense, finishing 31-of-38 for 255 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receiver CeeDee Lamb caught 11 balls for 143 yards. Prescott’s efficiency and Mike McCarthy’s quick playcalling struck early, moving the ball well and controlling time of possession.
New York Jets Rough Outing on Offense
Wilson could not get any help from his offensive line, as Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons and the Dallas front seven constantly rushed him. While Wilson was only sacked three times and avoided pressure for a team-leading 36 rush yards, he never got comfortable under center.
Parsons finished with two sacks, three quarterback pressures, and forced a fumble on Jets running back Dalvin Cook. Wilson didn’t get any help from his offensive line or running game. Rookie Kicker Brandon Aubrey was perfect on all five of his field goals, including a 55-yard dagger.
Wilson’s only highlight for the New York Jets offense was a 64-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson to make it 10-7 with 7:10 left in the second quarter. The second was on the last drive of the second half when he escaped pressure a few times and set up a field goal to trail 18-10 at halftime.
The New York Jets were shut out after halftime with two punts, one lost fumble, and three interceptions on six drives. Wilson finished 12-of-27 for 170 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. All three came in the fourth quarter, derailing hopes for the New York Jets to comeback.
Why Did The Jets Lose?
Prescott was clean in his performance and took field goals instead of forcing big plays in the red zone. Also, the Jets could not keep up their second-half drives and frequently went three-and-out. It is tough to win when losing the turnover battle and getting outmatched with time of possession.
The New York Jets had some missed opportunities, with Zach Wilson missing Garrett Wilson on an early touchdown and cornerback Sauce Gardener dropping what could have been a pick-six early in the game. Also, the Jets seemed to have no faith in the running game, as Breece Hall only rushed four times for nine yards.
The Jets’ offensive line was getting beat down by the Cowboys’ front seven all game. Wilson was getting pressure on nearly 70% of his dropbacks, and the offense had difficulty converting on third down, finishing 1-of-10.
The New York Jets gave up nine third-down conversions on defense and couldn’t get off the field. Also, the Jets couldn’t establish the running game, as Breece Hall only rushed four times for nine yards, Dalvin Cook only had four rushes for seven yards, and the team finished with 64 rushing yards.
Jets Offense Remains A Mess
Gang Green has faced two tough opponents to start the season, and starting with a 1-1 record isn’t a bad start to the season. They will still have a tough schedule with opponents like the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and their competitive division rivals.
The Cowboys are a very good unit, and even if Rodgers had played, beating Dallas on their home turf would have been a big task. The Jets must regroup as they return to Metlife to play division-rival New England Patriots (0-2).
Main Photo: Tim Heitman – USA Today Sports
