In a game mired by penalties and missed opportunities, the New York Jets endured a heart-wrenching 10-9 loss at home against the Denver Broncos. The defeat wasn't just a numerical setback but a reflection of an offense plagued by indiscipline and missed chances. The Jets' current record stands at 2-2 for the 2024 season, an early crossroad that demands introspection from both players and coaching staff.
Penalties: The Achilles' Heel
The Jets' offensive woes were glaringly evident as they racked up an NFL-high 13 penalties in their Week 4 game. This marks a significant departure from the first three weeks of the season, where they registered a total of eight offensive penalties, tying for the 10th-fewest in the league. Astonishingly, eight of the 13 penalties in this game were committed by the offense—five of those attributed to false starts.
Specific offenders included left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall, each flagged for two false starts. Left tackle Tyron Smith also contributed to the tally with a single false start. Head coach Robert Saleh was clearly concerned, 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."
The String of False Starts
The issue of false starts is particularly alarming considering the Jets only had one such violation in the first three weeks of the season. The stunning increase drew comments from many within the organization, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers. "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."
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly chimed in on the broader impact of these penalties, explaining the potential benefits of a disciplined cadence. "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.'"
Attention to Detail
The benefits of a disciplined offensive line cannot be overstated. Former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams elaborated on Rodgers' commitment to 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."
Missed Opportunity
The Jets had an opportunity to secure a last-minute victory but were ultimately undone by a missed 50-yard field goal attempt from Greg Zuerlein with just 51 seconds left on the clock. Such moments compound the frustration of a game riddled with self-inflicted mistakes and missed opportunities.
As the Jets look ahead to their next challenge, the need for a disciplined and effective offensive strategy becomes ever more crucial. Whether through increased accountability or refined practice routines, rectifying these issues will be vital for the Jets to turn their season around and avoid further disappointments like the tough loss against the Broncos.