The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Jets get first win, top Titans 27-24 in OT on Bullock’s miss
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) » Robert Saleh had just gotten soaked from a celebratory Gatorade bath when he turned to Zach Wilson after earning their first NFL victory together.
“You having fun yet?” the firstyear head coach asked the rookie quarterback with a laugh.
The New York Jets can only hope there are plenty more days like this — but maybe without as much drama.
Matt Ammendola kicked a 22yard field goal in overtime, and then Randy Bullock was wide left on a potential tying 49-yarder with 15 seconds left to give the Jets their first victory, 27-24 over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
“I am (having fun),” a grinning Wilson said. “It’s an interesting fun, though. It was a rollercoaster game.”
After the Jets took the lead in the extra period but failed to seal it with a touchdown despite getting to the 1-yard line, Ryan Tannehill — playing without injured
receivers Julio Jones and A.J. Brown — marched the Titans downfield with the help of two fourth-down conversions.
On second-and-5 from the Jets 26, Anthony Firkser couldn’t hold onto a pass from Tannehill and then the Titans took a delay of game penalty. Tannehill threw incomplete to Jeremy Mcnichols, setting up the tying kick for Bullock — but the ball sailed wide left and sent the Jets (1-3) into
a wild celebration.
“We battled back,” Tannehill said. “Proud of the way we battled through. Defense made a big stop in overtime. Got us the ball back, gave us a chance. We didn’t execute well enough in field goal range.”
The Jets had a chance to win it without giving the ball back to the Titans (22) when they got to the 1 on Tevin Coleman’s 8-yard catch — on which it was ruled he was out of bounds as he dived just short of the goal line. Wilson took a 3-yard loss on third down, a rookie mistake, setting up Ammendola’s 22-yarder.
“I was beating myself up on that last drive,” Wilson said. “I’ve got to take advantage of my opportunities to end that game.”
Wilson was mostly terrific, going 21 of 34 for 297 yards with touchdown passes to Corey Davis and Jamison Crowder and an interception.
He put New York ahead 24-17 with 9:06 left in regulation when he rolled out of the pocket to his right, pointed and waved downfield — urging Davis to keep going.
“He said, ‘Go deep,’” Davis said. “So I listened.”
The rookie then launched
a perfectly placed ball into Davis’ hands for a 53-yard touchdown.
“It was, ‘No! No! No! No! ... Oh my God!’” Saleh said of his reaction on the sideline.
The Jets tried to run out the clock late in regulation, but had to punt and gave the Titans one more chance with 2:09 left.
It was more than enough time.
After a pass interference call on Jarrod Wilson on fourth-and-10 from the Titans own 26, Tannehill tossed passes of 12 and 11 yards to Josh Reynolds, 6 to Nick Westbrook-ikhine and 6 to Firkser to get to the 2.