What we learned from New York's 21-13 win

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1. Wilson's crazy catch propels the Jets, whose season is still underway. Garrett Wilson's incredible touchdown and a relentless Jets pass rush were just enough to keep the Jets at 3-6 in Thursday's win over the Texans and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Early in the fourth quarter, Wilson made one of the greatest catches of all time, a one-handed cross-body grab with one foot and one shin (just barely) inside to give the Jets a 14-10 lead after a painful night this one Point. The touchdown came during that time Davante Adams was being evaluated for a concussion after falling badly a few games earlier. It was Adams Aaron RodgersHe was the first choice early on, but Wilson stepped into that role while Adams was out, catching four big passes in the final 16 minutes. Adams returned to put the icing on the much-needed win by catching a beautiful throw from Rodgers for a 37-yard score. Rodgers had just 32 passing yards in the first half, the fewest he's ever had in a half, but his big receivers both stepped up in the second half.
2. The Texans' pass protection was a nightmare. The Texans knew they had to go deeper offensively and defensively with wide receivers Nico Collins And Stefon Diggs out, and Joe Mixon And Tank Dell stepped in to fill some of that void. But it was negated by a Texas offensive line that struggled all night CJ Stroud was dismissed eight times and was slow to get up after contact on more than one occasion. Stroud completed just 11 of 30 passes for 191 yards, fought until the end and successfully defended himself several times, but often it was out of self-preservation. Dell caught six of Stroud's passes for 126 yards and Mixon ran for 106 yards and a score, but offensive errors plagued the Texans. Offensive holds negated Mixon runs of 10 and 17 yards. Stroud lost a fumble in the red zone early on. Six offensive linemen allowed multiple pressures, including both Greens (Kenyon, who left with an injury, and Kendrick, his replacement). Additionally, the Texans missed two field goal attempts, including a miss from 27 yards Ka'imi Fairbairn after making a 43-yarder just minutes earlier that got New York sent off for unnecessary roughness. The Texans accepted the Jets' penalty, and it backfired.
3. Corley, Watts mistakes don't hurt the Jets. On a night where many things went wrong, it was easy to imagine both Malachi Corleyis pointless fiddling or Eric WattsThe crucial late penalty came back to thwart the Jets' comeback hopes. In the end both were acquitted. The Jets' best play of the first half was an end-around to Corley that appeared to score a 19-yard touchdown. But it was officially ruled an 18-yard gain because Corley dropped the ball in front of the goal line. It rolled through the end zone and gave the Texans a touchback. It was Corley's second NFL touch, and it should have been his first touchdown – and a 7-0 Jets lead – but it cost his team dearly. He was the leading scorer until Watts beat the Texans' long snapper on a late field goal attempt and the Jets took a 14-10 lead. The kick was good, but the Texans took points off the board and tried to take the lead after Watts' 15-yard penalty. Luckily Watts was out of action when Fairbairn's 27-yard attempt failed to hit the post. Previously, the Jets' new kicker was, Riley Pattersondid In an extra point. Maybe the football ghosts were looking down on the Jets on All Saints Eve.
4. The Texans fell apart in the second half. The Texans took a slim 7-0 lead into halftime, but the good news was that the Jets looked worse than them. But things changed in the second half: The offense faltered, the defense lost its strength and even the special teams cost them points. Stroud led the Texans with a field goal early in the second half, but it wasn't until the final minute that they scored again and came close enough to lose by a point. DeMeco Ryans has led this team to many close victories, but his decision to take points off the board backfired. The biggest problem, however, was defense. That unit was on Rodgers' mind early, holding the Jets to 69 yards rushing in the first half, but their struggling unit managed 70, 70 and 80 yards for touchdowns on the only three possessions of the second half. Rodgers was sacked twice in the first half, but he had a brilliant second half, completing 15 of 18 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns.
5. The Jets' pressure varied. The Jets' defense allowed the Texans a 98-yard touchdown drive before the end of the first half, which gave Houston a halftime lead and blew it Tommy Townsend's brilliant 75-yard punt. But other than that drive, New York looked more like the elite unit it was considered to be before the season than the one we've seen more of this regular season. The Jets racked up eight sacks and a whopping 33 pressures Will McDonald IV, Haason Reddick, Quinnen Williams And Michael Clemons dominant at the front and Jamien Sherwood came into play as a timely blitzer. The Jets didn't need to apply any additional pressure as Reddick was a clear difference maker, even if the Texans' poor blocking had something to do with it. But either way, Stroud completed just 11 passes in 38 dropbacks, so the Jets did their job, even on a night where the Jets' tackling wasn't great Gravy Gardner fought and got beaten up.

Insight into next-gen stats for Texans-Jets (via NFL Pro): Joe Mixon carried the ball 15 times for 86 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and a touchdown when facing a light box (six or fewer defenders), including +31 rushing yards above expectations.

NFL Research: Aaron Rodgers completed 7 of 14 passes for 32 yards in the first half against the Texans, the fewest passing yards Rodgers ever had in a first half and tied for the fewest passing yards in a half (at least 10). passports). He threw for more yards (47) on the first drive of the second half than he did in the entire first half (32).