'Trash!' MetLife Stadium Claims More Victims in Houston Texans Loss to New York Jets
The Houston Texans laid an egg on their trip to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, falling 30-6 to a New York Jets team that is all but dead in the water.
Against Jets quarterback Zach Wilson and the whirlwind of dysfunction around him, Houston managed to get outplayed on both sides of the ball, deservedly falling to 7-6 on the season.
The loss is only the beginning of the Texans’s worries. Quarterback C.J. Stroud exited the game and entered concussion protocol after a hit from New York defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The offense lost more firepower when receiver Nico Collins made an even earlier exit.
Getting outgained by 212 yards is unacceptable against any team, much less one without a functioning offense. They simply fell flat in an important game.
Texans TE Brevin Jordan gains yardage after the catch in a game against the New York Jets.
© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Those injuries, though, may have downstream effects that a singular loss on Houston’s record doesn’t. Tight end Brevin Jordan spoke about it after the loss.
“Yeah, nah that turf is trash, man,” Jordan said. “I think everybody in the NFL can somewhat agree on that, that MetLife Stadium turf is not a fun thing to play on. Gotta keep going though, it was one of those teams where you just gotta find a way to win.”
Jordan is far from alone on his field-condition complaints. It seems every game the Jets (or New York Giants) host, some player goes down with an injury that the turf is blamed for. It’s hard to say with certainty how much of an impact it has had, but this kind of unanimity should be taken for what it’s worth. Sunday's rainy conditions certainly didn't help.
Houston will likely add more names to the injury report in the coming days. Along with Stroud and Collins, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., linebacker Blake Cashman, and cornerback Tavierre Thomas all suffered ailments in Week 14.
Collins suffered a calf injury, Anderson hurt his ankle, and the pair of back-seven defenders are dealing with ailing hamstrings, perhaps inflicted by the MetLife turf.
Whatever the reason for the injuries, they come at a bad time. Houston is now ninth in the AFC and is firmly in must-win mode if it hopes to make the playoffs. Teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts are sticking around without their starting quarterbacks, making life difficult. The Texans may be forced to join them.
Houston will look to get healthier and come away more successful against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15.
