Wealthy Cimini
DJ Bien-Aime
DJ Bien-Aime
ESPN
DJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after overlaying the New York Jets. He is a former athlete who completed his faculty profession at Louisville. You possibly can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his present, “Talkin’ Texans.”
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.. — The New York Jets got here by way of with a much-needed win in a wierd Thursday night time recreation with the AFC South-leading Houston Texans, pulling out a 21-13 victory at MetLife Stadium to snap a five-game dropping streak.
After a scoreless first half, Jets receiver Garrett Wilson gave New York a second-half jolt on Halloween night time with two one-handed landing catches, the second arguably serving because the catch of the 12 months to place the Jets forward to remain early within the fourth quarter.
The Texans bought 106 speeding yards from working again Joe Mixon however struggled in any other case, as C.J. Stroud was sacked eight occasions and Ka’imi Fairbairn missed two area targets.
Listed here are a very powerful issues to know from Thursday night time for each groups:
The Jets emerged from their “second of darkness” for a season-saving victory that included plenty of weirdness, simply what you’d count on on Halloween.
They overcame their worst play of the 12 months (Malachi Corley’s fumble for a touchback) and adopted it up with their greatest play (Wilson’s acrobatic fourth-quarter landing), sparking a gritty, if not creative victory over the Texans.
The Jets snapped their five-game dropping streak, giving interim coach Jeff Ulbrich his first win after three losses. They have been determined. It was so bleak after final Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots that Ulbrich dropped the “darkness” quote. His group, battling a number of in-game accidents, confirmed plenty of coronary heart in rebounding from seven- and three-point deficits, one thing that had been missing.
They confirmed resilience, too. The primary half was so ugly (69 complete yards) that disgruntled followers, some with baggage over their heads, have been chanting, “Promote the group!” — directed at proprietor Woody Johnson, who rocked the franchise by firing Robert Saleh after 5 video games.
If the Jets flip round their season, Wilson’s landing would be the turning level — a leaping, one-handed, back-of-the-end-zone play that was among the finest catches of the season. Wilson, rebounding from a poor recreation two weeks in the past, scored two touchdowns to prepared the ground on an evening the place they have been in a position to overcome plenty of errors.
Pivotal play: The franchise that gave us the Butt Fumble (and different assorted bloopers through the years) supplied one other second of indignity. Corley scored an obvious landing on a jet sweep from 19 yards, however he launched the ball earlier than he crossed the objective line and it rolled out of the tip zone for a touchback — an inexcusable gaffe in a then-scoreless recreation within the second quarter. It was the primary carry of his profession, and it could’ve been his first landing. You possibly can wager the play will likely be featured in 2024 lowlight movies.
QB breakdown: Possibly Aaron Rodgers’ cayenne pepper/water concoction wanted a bit of time to kick in. After a horrible first half (he matched a profession low with 32 yards passing), Rodgers perked up and threw touchdowns within the second half, hooking with outdated good friend Davante Adams for the sport clincher — Adams’ first TD as a Jet. Rodgers (22-for-32, 211 yards) had some old-guy moments, to make sure, however he made sufficient profitable performs.
Promising pattern: The entrance 4 introduced the warmth, because the Jets sacked C.J. Stroud eight occasions. Defensive finish Micheal Clemons and linebacker Jamien Sherwood led the best way with two apiece, however it was sort out Quinnen Williams (one sack, seven pressures) and Haason Reddick (six pressures) who generated probably the most warmth.
Troubling pattern: What is going on on with Sauce Gardner? The All-Professional cornerback hasn’t been himself this season, and this was the newest illustration of a proficient participant struggling to seek out his mojo. On three consecutive performs within the second quarter, he missed a sort out, allowed a 32-yard completion and dedicated a holding penalty. It was his fifth penalty, matching his 2023 complete. He added a sixth later within the fourth quarter. Like plenty of gamers on the group, Gardner hasn’t performed as much as expectations. — Wealthy Cimini
Subsequent recreation: at Arizona Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 10)
The Texans’ loss resembled their earlier two defeats, as they have been stricken by offensive points. Of their losses they’re averaging 14 factors and it is centered round Stroud being below fixed stress.
The Jets sacked Stroud eight occasions, a career-high, overshadowing a speeding assault that totaled 187 yards. The Texans’ offensive struggles saved the Jets — who did not rating a landing till the early third quarter — alive. However Rodgers ultimately threw three landing passes within the second half whereas the Texans’ offense was held to a measly six factors.
The Texans are scoring solely 22.3 factors per recreation, which permits groups to hold round. On Thursday, it value them a recreation that they entered with appreciable momentum.
Troubling pattern: The accidents for the Texans starters are piling up. On this recreation alone, Houston misplaced left sort out Laremy Tunsil (ankle), defensive finish Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), left guard Kenyon Inexperienced (shoulder) for durations of the sport. Even Stroud bought dinged. Tunsil, Stroud and Anderson ultimately returned to the sport, however Inexperienced did not. The Texans have been already with out their wideout duo of Nico Collins (hamstring) and Stefon Diggs (knee) together with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and security Jimmie Ward (groin).
Pivotal play: Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was referred to as for a questionable unlawful contact on fourth down on the primary play of the fourth quarter, nullifying a Rodgers incompletion that may have turned the ball over to Houston on downs. A couple of performs later, Rodgers threw a landing move that Wilson caught with one hand to place the Jets up 14-10.
Silver lining: The Texans get a mini-bye to get wholesome for his or her Week 10 battle towards the 6-1 Lions. That’ll be a troublesome matchup, however not less than the Texans will get more healthy with the doable return of Collins, Al-Shaair and Ward.
Most stunning efficiency: Tank Dell completed with six catches for 126 yards. This was the primary 100-yard recreation he is had since Week 11 in 2023. Dell’s efficiency was wanted with wideout Collins and Diggs sidelined. However the Texans could not flip it into extra factors. — DJ Bien-Aime
Subsequent recreation: vs. Detroit Lions (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 10)
