The Jets scored three touchdowns in each of their first three games of the season.
On Sunday, the Jets offense did not find the end zone.
Broncos (2-2) defeated the Jets (2-2) 10-9 on a rainy, 67-degree day at MetLife Stadium.
In his fourth start of the season, Aaron Rodgers completed 22-of-38 passes for 212 yards. Running back Breece Hall struggled to get anything going after he rushed for four yards on 10 carries. Hall also committed two false start penalties and had a second down drop in the red zone.
Rookie Braelon Allen led the Jets in rushing with 34 yards on eight carries.
Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix had a difficult day in his fourth career start. He finished 12-of-25 for 60 yards but had a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton.
The Jets offense was very conservative after gaining 101 yards in the first half, finishing with a meager 233 yards.
Gang Green also suffered from self-inflicted wounds throughout the afternoon. The team committed 14 penalties, 13 of which were accepted. Five of those penalties were false starts.
With 2:44 remaining in the game and down 10-9, the Jets had an opportunity to win the game. On 4 and 10, with 1:46 remaining, Broncos safety P.J. Locke came on the blitz and sacked Rodgers.
Denver took after forcing a turnover on downs, but Wil Lutz‘s 50-yard field sailed to the right. That gave the Jets new life with 1:27 left and zero timeouts.
Greg Zuerlein had a chance to give the Jets the lead with 51 seconds left but his kick went wide right.
It was the less-than-ideal start for the Jets’ offense. Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad sacked Rodgers on the game’s first play. Then, two plays later, on 3rd and 18, Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson fumbled as he was stripped by safety Brandon Jones and later recovered by Riley Moss.
However, the miscue did not hurt the Jets after their defense forced a three-and-out after the Broncos quickly punted the ball.
The Jets suffered from negative plays, multiple false starts, and undisciplined penalties throughout the first quarter. The Broncos and Jets combined for 21 yards in the first quarter, the fewest in the NFL since 1999.
With 4:01 left in the first quarter, the Jets’ defense forced their first turnover after Quincy Williams stripped Tyler Badie, and Michael Carter II recovered the ball on Denver 41, which gave Gang Green excellent field position.
The Broncos gifted the Jets with a red zone opportunity after Riley Moss was called for a pass interference in the end zone after he held Allen Lazard. But the Jets could capitalize after three failed attempts at the one-yard-line and a John Simpson false start that backed them up to the six.
Because of Simpson’s penalty, the Jets had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Zuerlein, which gave them a 3-0 lead in the second quarter.
The Jets and Broncos offenses continued to struggle until Gang Green got the ball back after the two-minute warning. Mike Williams‘ leaping toe-tapping catch for 21 yards put them in the red zone. But after John Franklin-Myers sacked Rodgers, Zuerlein made a 35-yard field goal to extend the Jets’ lead to 6-0 as time expired in the first half.
After both teams punted in their opening possessions of the second half, the Broncos finally got on the scoreboard and took the lead. A pass interference penalty on Carter and Will McDonald‘s second offsides flag of the day helped set up Nix’s eight-yard touchdown pass to Sutton, giving Denver a 7-6 lead late in the third quarter.
The Jets returned on the next drive and retook the lead after an 11-play, 53-yard drive. Gang Green appeared to have momentum when it reached the Broncos’ 23-yard-line, but Lazard was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty after he signed a first down in a gun motion. Because of that, the Jets’ drive ended in Zuerlein’s third field goal, this time from 40 yards, which gave them a 9-7 lead in the fourth quarter.
Denver answered on its next drive after gashing the Jets defense on the ground with runs, which included a 16-yard run by Javonte Williams. However, the Broncos only got three points following Lutz’s 47-yard field goal, which gave them a 10-9 lead.
Following Lutz’s 50-yard field goal with 1:27 remaining, the Jets had one last chance to win the game. A pass interference call by Moss put the Jets in field goal range. But Zuerlein missed a 50-yard field goal with 51 second remaining.
Next week, the Jets will travel to London to play the Vikings. The Broncos will host the Raiders.