How the Jets are winning despite QB Zach Wilson
The New York Jets are 6-3 and a half-game out of first in the AFC East. Imagine what they could do with a quarterback.
On Sunday, the Jets pulled off one of the most surprising wins of the season by punching above their weight in a 20-17 win over the Buffalo Bills. The team leaned on a solid running game and opportunistic defense to come away with the victory.
Buffalo (6-2) entered the week the clear favorite to win the Super Bowl -- and truthfully still should be. Most Super Bowl champions do lose twice and not always to great teams.
That being said, it's time to consider the Jets a realistic playoff contender instead of an early-season novelty. The defense forced turnovers and the offense had no problem running against a solid Bills rush defense.
The in-game adjustment Sunday was most impressive. On two lengthy first-half drives tallying 11 minutes and 54 seconds, Buffalo ran 23 plays for 160 yards (7.0 yards per play) and scored 14 points.
In the second half, the Bills held the ball for 10 minutes and 11 seconds on their two longest drives, running 19 offensive plays for 61 yards (3.2 yards per play) and scoring three points. On the Bills' two other second-half possessions, the team ran six plays and lost 18 yards.
The Jets dictated the tempo and controlled the line of scrimmage in the second half.
New York -- unlike many of the best teams in football -- isn't led by its quarterback. Zach Wilson is 5-1 as a starter but is completing 57.5 percent of his passes for 1,202 yards and four touchdowns with five interceptions. He is still very much a game manager at best, but for the first time in a long time the Jets' stock is up, and it's under his management.
On Sunday, he went 18-of-25 for 154 yards and a touchdown. He added 24 yards on 5 carries. It says it all that his game against Buffalo represents his best outing of the season.
Analysts debated online over Wilson's play.
Wilson isn't the reason the Jets are winning. The Jets haven't needed that from him. He may put a lid on the team's ceiling but as a young quarterback, there's plenty of time for him to develop into an asset instead of a liability.
The defensive line has been great, and the offense is building an identity as a run-first attack. Rookie Sauce Gardner has emerged as one of the best cornerbacks in football. The defense ranks in the top 10 in the league in both yards (312) and points (19.6) allowed.
If Wilson makes the leap that he can very well still make, the Jets won't need to stop for a refuel. If he doesn't, they'll only need a quick pitstop.
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