The Jets were able to enjoy a victory on Sunday but the postgame mood was not totally celebratory.
The Jets know that they did not play well on offense in their 13-10 overtime victory over the Giants.
One huge issue remains their third-down execution.
The Jets failed to convert their first 12 third-down attempts.
Their first conversion came when Zach Wilson scrambled for a 17-yard gain with 2:19 left in the fourth quarter.
They ended the game 2-for-15 on third down.
The Jets entered Sunday as the worst team in the NFL on third down.
Sunday’s performance surely kept them there.
“It’s not good. I’m not even going to sugarcoat it,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “Lack of execution from a players’ standpoint. Can we be better as play-callers? Obviously, there’s always going to be things we can be better at. It’s a universal thing. It’s not one thing. It’s not the quarterback. It’s not the O-line. It’s not the receivers. It’s not the tight ends or running backs or play-caller. It’s everybody taking turns at not being very good at football on third down and we’ve just got to figure it out.”
The Jets seem mystified about why they are not better on third down.
“I really wish I had an answer for you,” tight end Tyler Conklin said. “Whatever it is we need to figure it the hell out. I don’t think we got a first down until Zach scrambled for that first down. I don’t have an answer but it’s something we’ve got to fix. Today was tough. A game like today you have to be able to run the ball a little bit. We didn’t do good running the ball, which put us in a tough situation dropping back in that weather. I don’t really have an answer why we’re struggling so bad on third down at the moment.”
The Jets had nine penalties in the game, including four personal fouls.
Jermaine Johnson had a big one on the drive that ended in a Giants touchdown at the start of the third quarter.
The Jets stopped Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito on third-and-goal from the 10 but Johnson hit DeVito late and was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
“The JJ one on third down, Jermaine Johnson, unacceptable,” Saleh said. “I get it. Our guys play hard, they play fast, they play violent and I love it. We usually know where to draw the line. Today, it just wasn’t clean enough.”
DT Al Woods is out for the season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the game.
C Connor McGovern injured his knee and will undergo further testing Monday to determine the extent of the injury.
OL Wes Schweitzer injured his calf and he will also undergo testing Monday to find out how bad it is.
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