It was ugly. It was sometimes hard to watch. It was looking very bleak. But in the end, it was somehow a win for the New York Jets, beating the New York Giants 13-10 in overtime thanks to Greg Zuerlein kicking two field goals between the end of regulation and in overtime.
The Jets nearly lost to a Giants team that had negative-9 net passing yards as a team. The Giants’ leading receivers — Darren Waller and Matt Brieda — each had four yards. It was nearly an absolute embarrassment for the Jets. Yet they somehow won and now have a winning record nearing the midway point of the season at 4-3 and are now on a three-game winning streak.
The Jets now have their next two games in primetime — Monday night vs. Chargers, Sunday night at Las Vegas — so the last thing they want is another ugly performance like this in front of a national audience. But a win is a win, right? Let’s go through some notes and give out some game balls…maybe.
Final score: Jets 13, Giants 10 (OT)
Game notes
- The Jets better count their blessings tonight and be thankful for Greg Zuerlein. They were also fortunate that Graham Gano missed that late field goal that gave the Jets a chance to win.
- Zach Wilson, despite a day full of rough plays and bad sacks, made key plays when it was needed the most, leading the Jets on a big drive at the end of regulation to allow Zuerlein to kick a 35-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. Wilson also just spiked the ball in time, with one second left on the clock.
- Following a three-and-out for the Giants in overtime, the Jets needed just six plays — a pass interference call in the red zone also gave the Jets life — to get to the 15-yard line and set Zuerlein up for the game-winning 33-yard field goal.
- The Jets almost lost to a Giants team that had negative-9 net passing yards. Tyrod Taylor was 4/7 for eight yards before leaving with injured ribs while rookie Tommy DeVito went 2/7 for minus-1 yard/ The Jets scored a sack of each quarterback, resulting in a total loss of 16 yards.
- Zach Wilson went 17/36 for 240 yards and the 50-yard touchdown pass to Breece Hall. He was also somehow the leading rusher for the Jets with 25 yards.
- Hall finished with just 17 yards on 12 carries. To be fair, the Jets became riddled with injuries up front that severely limited what the Jets could do on offense. It also didn’t help that the play-calling was abysmal at times. Just one example was Nathaniel Hackett going empty shotgun on a 3rd and 1.
- As far as the injuries on the offensive line go, the Jets lost starting center Connor McGovern and then lost Wes Schweitzer, who moved over to center when McGovern left. That put practice-squad elevation Xavier Newman, who slid to right guard after Schweitzer went to center, over to center himself and Billy Turner went to right guard.
- The Jets also confirmed that defensive tackle Al Woods became the third Jet this season to suffer a season-ending Achilles injury, following quarterback Aaron Rodgers and offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker. There was also a scare during the game with wide receiver Xavier Gipson, but he was able to return to the game. D.J. Reed even took a punt return during the game, though it simply was a fair catch.
- Good things continue to happen when Garrett Wilson has the ball in his hands. Zach targeted Garrett 13 times. Garrett caught seven of them for 100 yards, his first time reaching the century mark this season. His previous season-high was 90 yards against the Eagles. The hope is that he will find the end zone again soon. He hasn’t caught a touchdown since Week 2.
- Zach Wilson took a bunch of bad sacks, some of which may have cost the Jets the game if things turned out differently. But the defense helped overcome the offense yet again, though credit Saquon Barkley rushing for 128 yards as the Giants had to force-feed him the football (36 carries).
- All in all, this was about as ugly of a win as you’re going to get. But the bottom line is a win is a win and now the Jets are 4-3 and tied for a playoff spot after the Steelers lost to the Jaguars. New York is also only a half-game behind Buffalo (5-3) for second in the division.
It was over when...
…Greg Zuerlein saved the Jets. Just when it looked like the Giants were going to win, Graham Gano missed a late field goal and the Jets went 58 yards in four plays to set up the game-tying field goal. Then Zuerlein did it one more time after the Jets took advantage of a bad punt by the Giants to win the game. The Jets’ special-teams has been huge this season.
3 stars of the game
3rd star: WR Garrett Wilson: Despite the poor showing on offense overall, Garrett Wilson reached 100 yards for the first time this season and was huge on the drive that tied the game at the end of regulation.
2nd star: DE Jermaine Johnson: The defense had to give everything to keep the Jets in this one and Johnson was at the forefront of the effort. Two sacks, four quarterback hits and two tackles for a loss. Johnson has been having an incredible sophomore season and continues to get better and better.
1st star: K Greg Zuerlein: Let’s face it, we have to give Zuerlein his flowers here. He truly bailed out the Jets in this one with two clutch field goals to tie and then win the ball game. Honorable mention also goes to Thomas Morstead, who continues to give the Jets an incredible punting game, something they did not have at all last season.
Play of the game
Breece Hall may not have had the best of days on the ground, but he once again showed how explosive he can be in the open field. Hall scored a 50-yard receiving touchdown late in the first quarter that, until Zuerlein’s field goals, were the only points the Jets scored all day.
.@BreeceH is SO GOOD.#NYJvsNYG on CBS pic.twitter.com/vdHEeKvQ0l
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 29, 2023
What's next?
The Jets will be under the bright lights of Monday Night Football for the second time this season as they host Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers, beginning a stretch of two straight primetime games against the AFC West. Week 10 brings a Sunday night trip to Las Vegas to face the Raiders.
