On the most critical play of the Eagles’ Week 6 game against the Jets, Jalen Hurts dropped back and saw chaos. Bodies. Receivers drifting into traps. Everyone covered. His progressions were muddier than the Huang He river. The Jets were playing like they had 15 defenders on the field when, in reality, they were down both of their starting cornerbacks. He’d thrown three picks already, and on a last heave downfield, he nearly threw a fourth.
It is hard to describe how critical this moment was—this win over the previously undefeated Eagles—not only for the Jets to pull themselves to .500, but to prove to everyone, finally and for all, that they are on the right path. This is not just another frail benchmark of progress. This is not just another Zach-Wilson-didn’t-fall-backward-and-fumble-a-ball-out-the-back-of-the-end-zone-so-it’s-a-win game. This was a defensive-minded staff without arguably its best defensive player (Sauce Gardner) shutting down one of the most powerful offenses in the NFL. Drive after drive. This was a team that was among the worst in the NFL two years ago, and now has backups and ancillary players who can form the core of a roster capable of winning massive games.
What more could we ask of Robert Saleh and coordinators Jeff Ulbrich and Nathaiel Hackett at this point? What more could Woody Johnson want? Fireman Ed? The fan calling into WFAN and screaming about trading for Mike White? When will it be time to admit that there is something special going on and stop questioning the validity of a process that rescued the franchise from near permanent irrelevance? The amount of blood and sweat to get here from Mike Maccagnan, Le’Veon Bell and blitzing the hell out of a Hail Mary was staggering. Having the Eagles come to town is no longer a curiosity akin to hydraulic press crusher videos on YouTube. It’s a game.
