New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jets make painful history with woeful offensive showing in loss to Chargers

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 11/7/23

The New York Jets defense did its job during the team's Week 9 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. But after holding a Chargers offense, fueled by Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen, to just 191 yards of total offense, seeing the Jets on the wrong side of a 27-6 final score is more than a bit head-scratching.

While the Jets actually outgained the Chargers in this game, New York's defense managed five sacks, allowed just 3.4 yards per play and helped their offense win the time of possession battle 34:27 to 25:33.

And even still, Zach Wilson and company were unable to find the end zone or even manage more than six points.

To highlight the frustration the Jets' defensive unit has to be feeling right about now, OptaStats laid out the unique and painful history the team made against the Chargers.

The Jets became the first team in the Super Bowl era to have its defense tally five or more sacks, hold an opponent under 200 total yards of offense, not allow a single 25-plus yard play and lose the game by 20-plus points.

The Jets are the only NFL team in the Super Bowl era to have their defense collect 5+ sacks, hold the opponent to under 200 yards and not allow any 25+ yard plays and yet lose the game by 20+ points.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) November 7, 2023

There's no easy way to summarize exactly how incredible all of those stats rolled into one actually is. And it's really the 20-plus point loss that makes it even worse, considering the Chargers offense was truly held in check in a fashion that's rarely been seen over the past few seasons.

Herbert, who threw for just 136 yards with no touchdown passes, had thrown for at least one score in every other game this season while also totaling north of 225 passing yards in all but one of the team's first seven games.

The Jets offense relied heavily on the arm of Zach Wilson in this game, as he attempted 49 passes, completing 33 of them for 263 yards. They had opportunities, but just couldn't find the end zone or capitalize in key spots, and in the end, it resulted in a lopsided loss that should have been much closer than the final score indicates.

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