What the Jets must do with improving QB Zach Wilson

New York Jets QB Zach Wilson has improved significantly over last season, playing smartly as a game manager. For the Jets to make the playoffs, however, they need him to do more than just limit mistakes.

New York is 3-3, with impressive wins against the Super Bowl-contending Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. Though Wilson didn't commit any major gaffes in those games, he wasn't the reason they won them, either. That's because New York's defense has emerged as perhaps the best "D" in the NFL, routinely "embarrassing"  quarterbacks. 

Against Buffalo's Josh Allen and Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts, New York forced a combined six interceptions and two fumbles. Despite the shift in momentum those turnovers provided, however, the offense didn't always capitalize. New York subsequently scored just three field goals and two touchdowns off those turnovers, one of which came on a fourth-quarter score that the opposing defense strategically allowed.

New York's offensive woes go beyond these two games. The Jets rank last in the NFL in red-zone TD scoring percentage (29.4) and third-down conversion rate (25 percent).

Many of these struggles on offense can be attributed to Jets HC Robert Saleh and OC Nathaniel Hackett's lack of trust in Wilson. Instead of taking shots downfield in the red zone or on third down, the coaches have opted for more conservative play-calling in hopes of preventing blunders by their 24-year-old starting quarterback.

New York's cautious game plan on offense, however, is not a recipe for sustained success. In an age when offenses reign supreme in the NFL, the Jets must figure a way to score more touchdowns and not depend on their defense forcing multiple turnovers.

If the Jets are to become more efficient in scoring, they must take the training wheels off of Wilson.

New York experimented with expanding the playbook and letting Wilson loose in a a 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 1. Wilson responded with the best game of his career, completing 28-of-39 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns.

Wilson is far from a complete quarterback, but he's also significantly ahead of where he was last season.  It's time the Jets allow him to show the NFL what he's fully capable of.