Jets' Touchdown Drought Continues in Sunday Night Road Loss to Raiders
Time ran out with the New York Jets still trying to reach the end zone for the first time in two weeks.
With Zach Wilson's Hail Mary falling incomplete, the Las Vegas Raiders (5-5) held on for a 16-12 home victory over the Jets (4-5) on Sunday Night Football in Week 10. It marked the second consecutive touchdown-less game for the Jets' offense, which settled for four Greg Zuerlein field goals in Las Vegas.
"We felt the offense moved the ball really well. They had five shots in their territory and came away with four field goals. We aren’t going to win football games," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh.
The Jets out-gained their opponent by a 365-274 margin on Sunday night and showed significant improvement on third down. Entering the game with an historically-poor 22.12 percent third down success rate, the Jets moved the chains seven times while facing 16 third downs.
While the third down efficiency increased, the redzone struggles continued. The Jets have not scored a touchdown in 11 quarters since running back Breece Hall took a screen pass 50 yards to the house against the New York Giants in Week 8.
Gang Green appeared to reach paydirt on back-to-back plays against the Raiders, but the two second-quarter scores were taken off the board for different reasons.
First, Wilson converted a 3rd-and-7 by taking off up the sideline on a scramble. He successfully dove toward the pylon, but replay showed his right foot slightly out of bounds on the leap. On the next snap, from the 3-yard line, running back Breece Hall barreled across the goal line, but the score was nullified due to an offensive holding penalty by tight end C.J. Uzomah.
"We have self-inflicted wounds. It’s been the same story for the last couple of weeks," said Saleh. "We have to figure it out. We have to figure out how to stop shooting ourselves in the foot when we get those opportunities."
Called for eight penalties for 83 yards, Saleh's team dropped to No. 30 overall in points per game amongst NFL leaders. Gang Green accounts for 16.0 points per outing. Only the New England Patriots and the New York Giants are ranked lower.
The Jets held a 9-6 lead at halftime in Week 10. The Raiders scored the game's only touchdown in the opening minute of the fourth quarter as Aiden O'Connell connected with Michael Mayer on a seven-yard strike that broke a 9-9 tie.
O'Connell, a 26-year-old rookie, finished 16-of-27 passing for 153 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Jets' defense sacked him three times.
"We played great defense. We do have a championship defense," said Saleh. "It’s not about wasting, but we have to take advantage of it, obviously. I give the Raiders credit. They made the plays when they needed to. We have to find a way to start generating points, for sure.”
Wilson, who has been under fire for the offense's lack of efficiency, totaled 317 yards of offense but a key fourth-quarter interception spoiled what was shaping up to be a solid performance.
"I thought he did all right. There were a couple of plays that I’m sure he wants back. I thought the linebacker [Robert Spillane] made an unbelievable play on the interception," said Saleh.
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