Jets Falter in Tight Contest Against Broncos, Penalized into Submission
The New York Jets were dealt a hard blow at home, narrowly losing 10-9 to the Denver Broncos in a game marked by their own miscues. Despite a valiant effort, the Jets' offensive efficiency was overshadowed by a barrage of penalties, leading to their second loss of the season.
For the Jets, who now hold a 2-2 record for the 2024 season, the game was marred by an NFL-high 13 penalties. The offensive unit alone was responsible for eight of these infractions, becoming the second-most penalized team in Week 4. Only the Houston Texans exceeded this with nine penalties.
The primary culprit for these offenses was false starts, which accounted for five of the penalties. Left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall each were flagged for two false starts, contributing significantly to the Jets' initial setbacks. Left tackle Tyron Smith also added to the tally with one false start. Intriguingly, the Jets had only one false start violation in the first three weeks of the season, emphasizing the dramatic shift in discipline.
Saleh and Rodgers Weigh In
Head coach Robert Saleh candidly addressed the breakdown in cadence and discipline that plagued his team. "We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence. Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back," Saleh noted.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers also reflected on the unusual nature of the infractions. "That's one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable. We haven't had an issue. We've only had one false start. [Right tackle] Morgan had one false start I believe until this. You know it's been a weapon. We use it every day in practice. We rarely have a false start. To have five today it seemed like, four or five. Yeah, it seems like an outlier. I don't know if we need to make mass changes based on kind of an outlier game."
Missed Opportunities
The game wasn't just about penalties, though. With less than a minute left on the clock, kicker Greg Zuerlein had a chance to put the Jets ahead but missed a crucial 50-yard field goal. This miss sealed the Jets' fate in a game that could have been theirs for the taking.
Voices of Experience Weigh In
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly weighed in on the impact of Rodgers' hard count, asserting its effectiveness as a strategic weapon. "He nailed it: 'my hard count is a weapon.' The amount of big plays, go ask Jordy Nelson. 'Hey Jordy, do you think the hard count that Aaron Rodgers has is effective?' He would say, 'Yeah, I got paid a lot of money on go balls that Aaron threw me after a defensive lineman jumped offsides.'"
Adding another layer of insight, former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams emphasized the critical nature of attention to detail. "Aaron is all about the attention to detail. So, snap count, that's attention to detail. You got to be locked in on something like that. We always talked about in Green Bay 'that the play is hard enough to win on its own, so let's not lose it pre-snap.' ... At least let's get our pre-snap operation smooth.' Everybody hears the same snap count in the huddle, so there's really no excuse for one of these things. Holding people accountable, I agree (with Rodgers). Sometimes that's what you have to do versus run from it. Have certain consequences if guys can't get right."
Assessing the Damage
The contrasting weeks in penalty counts reveal a puzzling inconsistency for the Jets. Having had only eight offensive penalties from Weeks 1 to 3, which tied them for the 10th-fewest in the league, Week 4's performance was an unexpected deviation. The Jets need to reassess and recalibrate their approach to avoid such pitfalls in the future.
The team's commitment to holding themselves accountable will be crucial. They need to channel this week’s lessons into improving their operational discipline and avoiding self-inflicted wounds that can cost them tight games. As the season progresses, the Jets will need to ensure that this game remains an anomaly rather than a recurring issue.