On Halloween night, the Jets finally ended their nightmare five-game losing streak.
Behind two Garrett Wilson touchdown catches — including an incredible one-handed grab in the back of the end zone early in the fourth quarter — and seven defensive sacks, the Jets (3-6) defeated the Texans (6-3) 21-13 on an unseasonably warm night at MetLife Stadium.
The win was Jeff Ulbrich’s first since he became the Jets interim coach on Oct. 8. It was Gang Green’s first victory since Sept. 19, when it defeated New England on Thursday Night Football.
Aaron Rodgers started the game slowly but played much better in the second half. He completed 22-of-32 passes for 211 yards and three second-half touchdowns.
Wilson had a tremendous night, with nine catches for 90 yards. But it was one catch that brought back memories of ex-Giant Odell Beckham’s touchdown against the Cowboys in 2014 that will be the talk of the NFL world on Friday morning.
Breece Hall finished with 74 rushing yards on 15 carries.
Davante Adams had his best game since he was traded from the Raiders on Oct. 15. He recorded seven catches for 91 yards and a touchdown catch with just under three minutes to go to seal the desperately-needed victory.
Just like last season, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had his worst game of the season against the Jets defense. He completed 11-of-30 passes for 191 yards and was sacked seven times. Joe Mixon finished with 106 rushing yards and a touchdown in a losing effort for the Texans.
The first half was a comedy of error for the Jets, which has been an ongoing theme dating back to last weekend’s loss to the Patriots. Rodgers struggled with ball placement and accuracy, and it didn’t help the Jets receivers dropped a few passes.
Both teams ended the first quarter scoreless after each offense struggled to put the ball in the end zone. The Jets began the second quarter in the red zone on the 19-yard line. On the quarter’s first play, Malachi Corley ran an end-around for an apparent touchdown. However, the play was reversed after the replay showed Corley dropped the ball at the one-yard line, and the ball rolled into the end zone for a touchback.
With 3:21 left in the second quarter, the Texans scored the game’s first touchdown after Mixon found the end zone following a three-yard run. Houston began the drive on its two-yard line and went 98-yard to score the touchdown. The Texans faced only one third down on the entire drive.
After the Jets went three and out on their final possession of the first half, fans began yelling, “Sell the team,” with owner Woody Johnson watching from his suite.
Gang Green trailed Houston 7-0 at halftime after an abysmal performance offensively. The team registered just 69 yards of total offense, and Rodgers completed 7 of 14 for 32 yards.
In addition to Rodgers’ struggling, Adams dropped a critical pass and the Jets defense suffered from missed tackles.
The Jets finally injected life into MetLife Stadium following their opening drive of the second half. Rodgers and the offense marched down the field as he completed four passes on the drive, including Wilson’s spectacular one-handed catch in which he ran 21 yards to the end zone and tied the game 7-7.
Gang Green had more yards on its first drive of the second half (70) than the entire first half.
The Texans responded following the Jets touchdown after Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 54-yard field goal, which gave the team a 10-7 lead.
With 12:54 remaining, the Jets took the lead for the first time. On a 3rd-and-19 play from the 26-yard-line, Wilson caught another touchdown pass one-handed in the back of the end zone. The pass was initially ruled incomplete, but after the Jets challenged the play on the field, the play was reversed.
Immediately on their next drive, Stroud completed a 50-yard pass to Tank Dell. Fairbairn originally made a 43-yard field goal, but the Jets were called for a personal foul penalty, which gave Houston a new set of downs.
After the Texans couldn’t get the ball in the end zone, Fairbairn attempted a 27-yard field goal, but he doinked it off the left upright.
Gang Green sealed the win on Adams’ 37-yard score.
The Jets’ next game will be on the road, their third in four weeks. Following a 10-day break, they will play the Cardinals on Nov. 10.