Jets' Defense Brings Heat in 31-21 Road Win over Broncos
The New York Jets' defense put the team in position to win and subsequently closed out a Week 5 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Protecting a 24-21 late-game lead, the Jets derailed Denver's two-minute drill by coming up with their second defensive fumble recovery of the day.
On a 2nd-and-10 from the Denver 41-yard line, Green & White linebacker Quincy Williams chased down Russell Wilson for a strip sack. The loose ball bounced toward the left sideline where cornerback Bryce Hall scooped it up and took it to the house for a victory-clinching touchdown.
It was Williams's second sack of the game, punctuating a superb individual effort by the veteran linebacker. Williams, who re-signed to a three-year contract this past March, totaled nine tackles and three quarterback hits in the 31-21 win.
"He's a game-wrecker at linebacker," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh. "I'm so proud of him."
Jermaine Johnson and Bryce Huff both untracked Denver drives with sacks, forcing the Broncos into two second-half punts. Gang Green limited the Broncos to 4.8 yards per pass and sacked Wilson four times.
The Jets nearly had a fifth QB takedown when Al Woods wrapped Wilson up in the endzone. Although he didn't take the sack, Wilson was charged with an intentional grounding penalty that resulted in a safety for Gang Green. The two-pointer cut Denver's lead to 7-5 with 4:24 remaining in the first quarter.
Denver held a 13-8 advantage at the break, but it didn't last long. On the Jets' first play from scrimmage after halftime, running back Breece Hall broke free for a 72-yard scoring sprint. The subsequent extra point gave Gang Green a 15-13 lead that they would not relinquish.
"That dude's a stud," said New York quarterback Zach Wilson about the RB1. "When you give Breece a chance to hit it like that and he's able to make some guys miss."
Returning to the site of his 2022 season-ending ACL tear, Hall finished with 194 yards from scrimmage on 25 touches taking on his heaviest workload to date. He averaged 8.0 yards per rush.
"It's just so weird watching Breece run because it looks like he's not trying," said tight end Tyler Conklin, who finished with a team-high four receptions for 67 yards. "It looks like he's just jogging out there, and all of a sudden, he's running away from people."
The Jets' next three second-half possessions all ended in a field goal by Greg Zuerlein, bumping the lead to 24-13 with 7:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. The reliable Zuerlein went 5-of-5 on three-point attempts in Mile High Stadium.
Wilson, the Jets' signal caller, went 19-of-26 passing for 199 yards and one interception. He made a couple of key fourth-quarter completions to move the chains and keep the offense on the field.
"I thought Zach did a great job," said Saleh.
INJURY UPDATE: Jets' starting right tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker left the game late in the second quarter and never returned. He was officially ruled OUT with a calf injury. Saleh said Vera-Tucker will undergo an MRI to determine the severity.
JETS' GAMEDAY INACTIVES: RB Israel Abanikanda, LB Zaire Barnes, WR Jason Brownlee, CB Brandin Echols, WR Mecole Hardman, DE Carl Lawson, CB DJ Reed
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