The New York Jets faced a tough setback at home, narrowly losing 10-9 against the Denver Broncos. This defeat was not just a loss on the scoreboard, but also a reflection of a deeper issue that has been lingering beneath the surface — penalties.
This game saw the Jets committing an NFL-high 13 penalties, with a staggering eight coming from the offense. The Jets' offense earned the dubious distinction of being the second-most penalized unit in Week 4, following closely behind the Houston Texans, who registered nine penalties.
Offensive Struggles Defined by Penalties
The breakdown of penalties revealed significant issues, particularly with false starts. Five of the offensive penalties were attributed to false starts, an uncharacteristic flaw for a team that had only one false start violation in the first three weeks of the season. The Jets' offense had managed to keep penalties in check in the opening weeks, tying for the 10th-fewest offensive penalties in the league with just eight.
Among the offenders, left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall each contributed two false starts, while left tackle Tyron Smith added another. This sudden spike in penalties left many perplexed, including the team’s head coach, Robert Saleh.
"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 noted.
Quarterback Insight on Penalties
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers also shared his thoughts on the unexpected penalty surge. "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," said Rodgers.
Rodgers highlighted the importance of using cadence effectively, an element that had previously been a strength for him and the team. This sentiment was echoed by former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly, who praised Rodgers' hard count as a valuable tool. "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.'
Emphasis on Attention to Detail
Former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams also weighed in on the importance of precision in executing plays. "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 explained.
A Close Call
In the closing moments of the game, the Jets had an opportunity to clinch a win, but kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 50-yard, go-ahead field goal with just 51 seconds remaining. This miss further compounded the Jets' woes, sealing their narrow defeat.
Currently, the Jets stand at a 2-2 record for the 2024 season. The team will need to address the penalty issue promptly if they aim to improve their performance and climb the standings. As they reflect on this loss, the words of their leaders resonate — attention to detail, accountability, and precise execution could very well be the keys to avoiding such costly errors in future games.