Zach Wilson’s career underground arc hits new New York low 10-3 loss to New England Patriots. In 59 minutes and 30 seconds, the Jets’ defense only conceded one goal against the New England Patriots. However, Marcus Jones’ game-winning return pitch in the final moments of Sunday’s meeting in New England ended one of the worst defensive games of the season. The win was the Patriots and Bill Belichik’s 14th consecutive game against the Jets.
Belichick’s defense is perhaps the best in the NFL, led by the league’s sacked leader Matthew Judon, and they’re number one in the standings. Football Outsiders defensive ranking to show it. Nothing seems to bring Belichick more joy than disappointing an overpowered Jets midfielder.
While Mac Jones threw 240 yards and had no interceptions, Wilson’s 77 yards in three quarters triggered latent doom in the psyche of every Jets fan. And it’s for good reason, as Wilson still operates as if he was second-place pick in the XFL Draft, as opposed to the NFL.
All admiration for Wilson’s living arm or “throw off the platform” has disappeared and is replaced by exasperation. During Wilson’s post-match press conference, he was asked if he felt as though he had let the defense down, to which Wilson replied in a defiant but deafening tone, “No.” Special Team Captain Justin Hardee shows more more humble than that. The defense also noticed Wilson’s lack of self-discipline. Prominent rookie corner Sauce Gardner and DE John Franklin-Myers both like tweeting criticized Wilson’s absurd reaction and his lousy game. Their passive active on Twitter suggests that Robert Saleh can have himself a dressing room split between attack and defense as long as Wilson stinks in the center. That said, both players declared prefer is an accident. Both players. Both like. Right.
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Wilson also blamed headwinds, saying, “I think you also have to take into account that it’s windy out there, guys.” While complaints about strong winds may have some merit to them, that doesn’t explain why he’s so much worse than Mac Jones, who completed 23 of 27 passes.
Back here in reality, Jets’ defense has been Wilson’s life jacket throughout the season. He is currently 32nd in passer rating, 33rd in completion rate, 31st in touch-intercept ratio and 31st in touches per attempt. While under pressure, he finished last in passer rating (11.5), completion rate (26.7) and yards per attempt (3.27). He was disqualified for playing poorly during his rookie season as he slowly adapted to the NFL, but he’s closer to Josh Rosen than Josh Allen at this point in his career.
Jet fans may encounter some unpleasant déjà vu if Wilson continues down this slope. The Jets have watched the New England Patriots run the league for two decades with Tom Brady at the helm. Buffalo’s Josh Allen is overcoming airbending at elite level and Miami is riding the peaks and valleys of Tua Tagovailoa’s MVP caliber, but at his worst, he’s above sea level. The reverse arc in Wilson’s career was a bowl. The brass Jets just have to hope he can hit the baseline to be considered a midway starter.
The dynamic in the AFC East resembles the post-1983 order when the Jets picked Ken O’Brien over Pitt’s Dan Marino, who broke the record for passing the Dolphins in his sophomore season en route to Canton. The Bills knocked out Jim Kelly and advanced to four Super Bowls. A similar dynamic exists today between Tua, Allen, and Wilson. Mac Jones may be more like Tony Eason than Tom Brady, but it’s all relative. Wilson is behind in his department.
Compared to his experienced backup, Joe Flacco, Wilson is a jerk. In just three appearances this season, Flacco has had one more touchdown pass than Wilson (Flacco 5, Wilson 4), who has started seven games. Justin Fields tripled Wilson’s total touchdown with a fraction of the talent at the receiver. However, unlike the Bears, the Jets’ defense functioned more like a Super Bowl-sized unit. Two years into his NFL career, Wilson is struggling a lot and the Jets shouldn’t hesitate to bring in a young quarterback to compete with him, or replace him with next season.
The Jets don’t need to be tied to a midfielder, who is constantly on the offensive while all indications suggest that with an above-average start, they can play now. Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed form the NFL’s best full-back duo in the league and seven forwards are pressuring at one of the NFL’s highest rate. As a stacked draft class approaches, Wilson may be running out of time to change his career trajectory. And the Jets still seem to be looking for that franchise QB.
