The New York Jets encountered a frustrating defeat at home, succumbing to a 10-9 loss against the Denver Broncos. This setback has brought their season record to an even 2-2. A major factor in their downfall was an astonishing 13 penalties, the highest in the NFL for Week 4, which proved to be a pivotal element in the game's outcome.
The Jets' offense, in particular, struggled significantly with discipline, accounting for eight of these infractions. In an unusual twist for a team that previously showed strong composure, five of these penalties were due to false starts. Running back Breece Hall and left guard John Simpson were each flagged for false starts twice, while left tackle Tyron Smith added another. Head coach Robert Saleh expressed his disappointment, noting, "We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence. Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back."
This surge in penalties is surprising, given the Jets' relatively clean performance in the opening weeks of the season. Prior to this game, they had only committed one false start in three weeks and tied for the 10th-fewest offensive penalties in the league. Amidst the frustration, quarterback Aaron Rodgers sought to provide perspective, stating, "That's one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable. We haven't had an issue. 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. To have five today it seemed like, four or five. Yeah, it seems like an outlier. I don't know if we need to make mass changes based on kind of an outlier game."
The impact of the penalties was compounded by a missed opportunity to clinch a victory in the waning moments of the game. Kicker Greg Zuerlein had the chance to give the Jets a lead with a 50-yard field goal but missed with 51 seconds remaining, sealing the narrow defeat.
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly underscored the significance of Rodgers' hard count, praising its effectiveness. "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.'" Rodgers' veteran presence and attention to detail, particularly with snap counts, are elements that have yielded success in his illustrious career.
Former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of precision. "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. We always talked about in Green Bay 'that the play is hard enough to win on its own, so let's not lose it pre-snap.' ... At least let's get our pre-snap operation smooth.' 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. Have certain consequences if guys can't get right."
This game serves as a stark reminder that even the smallest lapses in focus can leave a significant impact on the outcome. The Jets will need to address these issues promptly if they hope to remain competitive. As they reflect on their performance, it is imperative for both players and coaches to ensure that such an aberration doesn't become the norm, preserving their potential for success in the remaining season.