Wilson, Jets come up empty
Cowboys defense stifles quarterback
ARLINGTON, Texas — Life without Aaron Rodgers officially began Sunday for the Jets as they traveled to play the Cowboys.
Zach Wilson got the start as Gang Green was hoping to get a boost from its defense. However, that wasn’t the case, as the Jets lost their first game of the season.
The Cowboys (2-0) defeated the Jets (1-1) 30-10 in front of 93,689 mostly screaming Cowboy fans in attendance at AT&T Stadium.
Wilson started for Aaron Rodgers, who ruptured his Achilles four plays into last Monday’s 22-16 victory against the Bills. Sunday was Wilson’s first start since he was benched last December against the Jaguars. He completed 12 of 27 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was sharp as he completed 30 of 37 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas also rushed for 125 yards with Tony Pollard registering 66 of them.
Gang Green used a lot of 12 personnel to begin the game offensively, which is a two-tight end set formation, while also focusing heavily on the run. The move wasn’t effective early, as the Jets didn’t register a single offensive first down in the first quarter. The Jets only first down in the quarter came on special teams as Ashtyn Davis ran a direct snap on a fake punt to move the chains.
The Jets only rushed for 64 yards against a stout Cowboys front seven, which got a lot of help from the roaring Dallas fans.
The Cowboys pass rush also caused problems for the Jets offensive line the entire game as Micah Parsons and Dallas front seven consistently collapsed Wilson’s pocket. Despite that, Wilson took what the Cowboys defense gave him as he used his legs to generate offense for the Jets in the first half.
The Jets final possession of the first half was carried by Wilson’s decision-making and running ability as he ran for 33 yards on the drive. That allowed Austin Seibert, who filled in for Greg Zuerlein [groin], to make a 34-yard field goal to end the half.
During the first 30 minutes, Wilson completed 5 of 10 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown pass. He also led the team in rushing with 36 yards. The second half was a completely different story for Wilson.
Late in the game, down 27-10, Wilson threw his worst pass of the day as he threw it right to Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse and returned it to the Jets’ 17-yard line. He also threw another interception with the team down 30-10 as he tried to get the ball to Garrett Wilson, but Malik Hooker picked it off. Wilson’s third and final interception came with less than three minutes in the game as Trevon Diggs got the fourth turnover of the game for the Cowboys.
After acquiring Rodgers, the Jets said they returned to fundamentals with Wilson as they worked on his footwork and
overall confidence on and off the field. Of course, the Jets didn’t foresee Wilson playing much, if at all, this season, with Rodgers projected to start. However, the team has continued to put its trust in Wilson despite his play since he entered the league.
The time of possession was significantly in favor of the Cowboys as they had the ball 20 more minutes than the Jets.
The Cowboys won the toss and decided to receive the ball to begin the game, which is not the norm these days. But the unconventional decision worked.
Dallas took an early 7-0 lead, which was helped by a 25-yard reception by wide receiver Ceedee Lamb. Prescott ended the 12-play, 75-yard drive by finding tight end Jake Ferguson for a four-yard reception.
Wilson’s and the Jets first possession happened at the 9:19 mark in the first quarter. However, Gang Green couldn’t generate any offense as it went three and out after a negative run play and a Micah Parsons sack on third down.
The Jets didn’t get anything going offensively until Wilson’s 68-yard second-quarter touchdown slant to Garrett Wilson. That trimmed the Cowboys lead to 10-7.
Toward the end of the second quarter, Dallas added to its lead as tight end Luke Schoonmaker recorded a one-yard touchdown reception following a pass interference call on Brandin Echols. The Cowboys went for two and got it on a Pollard run as Micheal Clemons’ roughing the passer call put the ball from the two to the one to increase their lead to 18-7.
Dallas added a field goal following a Jets three and out on its first second-half possession. Directly after that, running back Dalvin Cook was stripped by Parsons as the Cowboys recovered on the 37-yard line. That led to Aubrey’s third field goal, which increased Dallas’ lead to 14 points [24-10].
In the fourth quarter, the Cowboys played it conservatively with a big lead as they ran the ball to Pollard and used the short passing game to get them back in field goal range. That plan for attack also took time off the clock as the Jets were down 27-10.
Wilson’s late interception set up Aubrey’s fourth field goal of the game, making it 30-10.
The Jets will return to Metlife Stadium next Sunday as they will host the Patriots. Dallas will travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals.*