The New York Jets grappled with a disheartening home loss, narrowly falling 10-9 to the Denver Broncos. This Week 4 defeat was marred not just by the prospective scoreline but by a plethora of self-inflicted wounds. The Jets’ offense found itself entangled in a bramble of penalties, an element prominently contributing to their downfall.
A Plague of Penalties
Committing a season-high 13 penalties, the Jets led the NFL in infractions for Week 4. Surprisingly, eight of these blunders originated from their offense, drawing stark attention to the discipline issues that plagued the unit. Of particular note were the five penalties for false starts, a category that saw contributions from several key players. Left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall bore much of this burden with two penalties each, while left tackle Tyron Smith added one more. This sudden surge in false starts was baffling, especially since the Jets had maintained a commendable record of just one such penalty over the first three weeks of the season.
Head coach Robert Saleh expressed his consternation post-game, stating, "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's comments reflected a genuine concern about the apparent regression in an area that had not been problematic in practices or prior games.
Offensive Identity Crisis
Adding context to the discussion, quarterback Aaron Rodgers noted, "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." Rodgers emphasized that disciplined pre-snap operation had typically been a robust facet of their offense, making the game’s unwelcome surprises all the more perplexing.
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly extended his view on Rodgers’ usage of cadence. "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.'" Kuechly’s reflection on Rodgers’ proven track record with the hard count spoke volumes about how uncharacteristic the Jets’ penalties were.
Providing additional perspective, former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams remarked, "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." Adams’ insights underlined the fundamental importance of discipline and accountability in maintaining offensive fluidity.
Missed Opportunities
The game’s climax encapsulated the Jets' struggles. Kicker Greg Zuerlein had an opportunity to clinch a victory with a 50-yard field goal in the dying moments. Unfortunately, he missed, and the Jets' bid to overturn their fortunes fell just short. This missed opportunity was emblematic of the narrow margins that define NFL games, where every error or lapse in discipline can decisively impact the outcome.
As the Jets sit at a 2-2 record for the 2024 season, the coaching staff and players are undoubtedly reflecting on the numerous penalties and missed opportunities that cost them dearly against the Broncos. Moving forward, addressing these discipline issues with surgical precision will be critical for the Jets if they aspire to transform these near-wins into definitive victories.