On paper, with talents like Quinnen Williams and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, the New York Jets have one of the NFL’s best defenses. When it comes to actual results, they have those too. Entering Sunday’s game with the New England Patriots, the Jets were No. 6 overall in Football Outsiders’ DVOA. They were also in the top 10 in yardage allowed and scoring.
That’s why, after a 10-3 rock fight loss to the Patriots, much of the focus in New York is on Zach Wilson’s disappointing play. The second-year quarterback recorded just 77 yards passing against New England with only nine completions, continuing an alarming sophomore campaign for the former top-two pick. (Note: The Jets also punted 10 times, the last of which led to a shocking game-winner in the final seconds.)
Anyone who’s watched the otherwise talented Jets lately seems to understand Wilson is, on some level, holding them back. Everyone except for Wilson, as he noted in a post-game interview on Sunday:
.@Connor_J_Hughes: "Do you feel like you let the defense down at all?"
Zach Wilson: "No." pic.twitter.com/tiJiTSrFPE
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 20, 2022
Zach Wilson was asked if he feels like he let the defense down?
“No.”
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) November 20, 2022
Oof, what a brutal answer. Even if Wilson doesn’t like the way the question is framed — if he’s the leader of the Jets, he should be taking more responsibility regardless of his play. A terse “no” after your offense scores three points in an important divisional game is never the correct path.
There’s a long way to go in this Jets’ season, with plenty of time for Wilson to see a course correction. It’s starting to seem like that might not happen.
NFL fans were confounded by Wilson's denial of his poor play letting the awesome Jets defense down
9-of-22, 77 yds, 3.5 YPA, 4 sacks taken https://t.co/ahCntAMRfS
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 20, 2022
This guy isn’t it https://t.co/OVKbGkiCYo
— Five Reasons Sports (@5ReasonsSports) November 20, 2022
Suggested follow-up questions…
“Really?” and “Why not?” https://t.co/2gCfIbJsFP
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) November 20, 2022
Zach Wilson seems determined to make people hate him https://t.co/3aixINfihB
— Danny Heifetz (@Danny_Heifetz) November 20, 2022
😬 He said that with confidence too. https://t.co/9fp1Noxnrn
— CROCKPOT🤴🏾 (@eric_crocker) November 20, 2022
Ah yes. Exactly how to win over your defense after a tough loss. https://t.co/QGpdFbyDwR
— Sam Dekker (@dekker) November 20, 2022
Narrator: The answer we were looking for was, “Yes.” https://t.co/3OQUXYxoSZ
— Tyler Competente (@CompetenteTyler) November 20, 2022
This is the last thing the #Jets fans wanted to hear. I’m not sure the defense or the receivers will be crazy about it either. https://t.co/ZOUh0o1Bpi
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) November 20, 2022
He had a 50-50 chance of guessing the right answer there … https://t.co/9wuwk4vnLE
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) November 20, 2022
Wrong answer. Gotta shoulder the blame as the “franchise quarterback” https://t.co/smZ1WiFuXS
— Tim McMaster (@TimMMcMaster) November 20, 2022
Bet the defense sees it differently. https://t.co/KK1uDmApgP
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) November 20, 2022
His bust potential was always massive, and he’s doing a great job bringing it closer to fruition. What a child. https://t.co/SPqWCfzWPR
— Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) November 21, 2022
This is not going to go well for Zach https://t.co/kZpad9cDg6
— Cover 1 (@Cover1) November 20, 2022