In a game that will likely be relived in film sessions for all the wrong reasons, the New York Jets suffered a narrow 10-9 defeat against the Denver Broncos at home. The loss, dropping the Jets to a 2-2 record for the season, wasn't just a test of grit but a reflection of undisciplined play that marred their efforts.
Costly Penalties
One of the most glaring issues for the Jets was their lack of discipline, as they racked up an NFL-high 13 penalties during their Week 4 contest. A significant portion of this burden fell on the offense, which was responsible for eight of those penalties. "We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence," head coach Robert Saleh remarked, emphasizing the unexpected nature of this lapse. "Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back."
False Starts: A Recurring Theme
This week’s performance was an anomaly for the Jets' offense, which had only been called for one false start over the first three weeks of the season. This dismal figure ballooned to five false starts in the Broncos game, accounting for more than half of their offensive penalties. The persistent issues began at the line of scrimmage, with left guard John Simpson committing two false starts, running back Breece Hall adding another two, and left tackle Tyron Smith contributing one.
Aaron Rodgers, the Jets' star quarterback, was vocal about the uncharacteristic nature of this high penalty count. "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," Rodgers stated. "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."
A Wasted Opportunity
Despite the discipline issues, the Jets had an opportunity to clinch the game. Greg Zuerlein, the normally reliable kicker, missed a crucial 50-yard field goal with just 51 seconds left on the clock. A go-ahead field goal in this situation would have likely sealed the victory for New York, but it wasn't meant to be.
Voices of Experience
The performance drew critique and insights from seasoned professionals, bringing attention to the central role of discipline and cadence in offensive play. Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly echoed this sentiment while highlighting Rodgers' expertise. "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.'"
Davante Adams, another former teammate of Rodgers, backed this up by emphasizing the importance 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," Adams said. "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."
The Road Ahead
The defeat leaves the Jets at a precarious 2-2 on the season, raising questions about their readiness and discipline. The team had previously been tied for the 10th-fewest offensive penalties in the league through the first three weeks. Such a dramatic spike is an anomaly that will need to be addressed if the Jets are to maintain hope of a successful season.
The next steps for the Jets will likely involve examining their cadences and snap counts, ensuring that these tactical features remain assets rather than liabilities. While Saleh and Rodgers don’t believe massive changes are required, holding players accountable and reinforcing fundamental discipline will be key to turning the tide. The Jets will need to stabilize their operation to stay competitive in the tightly contested 2024 NFL season.