Jets vs. Texans: Garrett Wilson makes potential catch of the year as New York beats Houston to drop five games

CNN
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Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson made a catch-of-the-year candidate on Thursday night as New York defeated the Houston Texans 21-13, ending their five-game losing streak.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Wilson reached back with one arm in the end zone and twisted his body to snatch the ball out of the air as Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter could only watch.

Perhaps even more notable, the second-year receiver was able to place his left shin and right foot in the end zone while maintaining possession of the ball. Although initially ruled an incomplete pass, a challenge by Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich led to a review and the officials overturned the decision, declaring it a successful catch and touchdown.

The play bore striking resemblance to another all-time great catch at MetLife Stadium. The one-handed, leaping nature of Wilson's attack has been compared to Odell Beckham Jr.'s handle for the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys in 2014.

Afterward, Wilson said the two brilliant moments had their differences.

“(Beckham) landed three feet in the air, the ball went out of bounds, and it was Odell, man,” Wilson told reporters. “Odell against the Cowboys, that was it. The fact that it is even brought up in this conversation is a blessing to me. I am honored.”

Ulbrich said the catches by Wilson and Beckham were two identical catches.

“Oh my God,” Ulbrich said. “I mean, I was talking to the referee when they were discussing it and I said, 'Just for posterity's sake, you have to say this is what it is so it goes down in history.' I mean, it would give the Odell catch a run for its money. It was incredible.”

Wilson explained what was going through his head as the ball flew through the air on the extraordinary catch.

“Honestly, you don't think much about it: 'How can I make a play?'” Wilson told Prime Video's Kaylee Hartung after the game. “Give me a chance to play something. (Jets QB) Aaron (Rodgers) believed in me. Once the ball goes up, it's like you have no choice but to go and try to do what you can do. I'm glad they switched the call. I wasn't sure if that was the case. It was a cool piece. We needed it. At the end of the day, I’m proud that I’m there when we need it.”

It was the second one-handed grab Wilson made during Thursday's game, having already caught a Rodgers pass with one hand midway through the third quarter and ran for a 21-yard touchdown.

Wilson's second-half explosion was a major factor in the Jets ending their five-game losing streak after a slow start by both teams at MetLife Stadium.

The game's first points were scored 3:21 into the first half thanks to a three-yard touchdown run by Texas running back Joe Mixon after both defenses stifled their opposing offenses to force punts.

The Jets thought they had taken the lead on the first play of the second quarter when Malachi Corley ran 19 yards into the end zone, but after a review by the officials, it was deemed that the rookie had dropped the ball before subsequently running with it Crossed the goal line He rolled out of bounds, which resulted in a turnover and gave Houston the ball.

Jets QB Rodgers had historically low numbers in that first half, completing 7 of 14 passes for 32 yards, which was the fewest passing yards Rodgers ever had in a first half, and totaling the fewest passing yards in a half ( Minimum). 10 passes), according to the NFL.

But Wilson's first touchdown of the game on the first drive of the third quarter tied the game, and his extraordinary one-handed grab early in the fourth quarter gave the Jets the lead.

New York's lead was extended late in the game when Davante Adams scored his first touchdown for the Jets after returning a 37-yard throw from Rodgers.

Despite scoring a late field goal, the Texans were unable to comeback as they fell to 6-3 and the Jets improved to 3-6.

“It feels good,” Wilson told reporters. “We definitely wanted to get back into the win column. Five losses in a row feels like what you would expect. It doesn't feel good. The most important thing is that we are better and it was time to prove it.”