Imagine watching a football game where every offensive play feels like pulling teeth. That was the story in London this past Sunday, as the Denver Broncos barely squeaked out a 13-11 victory over the New York Jets. While the Broncos are heading back to Denver with a 'W,' their offensive performance left much to be desired.
The star of the show? The Broncos' defense, plain and simple. They relentlessly pressured Jets quarterback Justin Fields, sacking him a whopping nine times! The Jets offense, struggling mightily, failed to reach the end zone even once. This victory pushes the Broncos to a 4-2 record, setting them up for a Week 7 showdown at home against the New York Giants, who share MetLife Stadium with the Jets.
Looking ahead, the Broncos desperately need to find a spark for their offense, led by quarterback Bo Nix. Nix did manage a touchdown pass at the very end of the first quarter. But here's where it gets controversial... the team went completely scoreless for the next two quarters! In fact, Nix couldn't even complete a single pass in the entire third quarter. To add insult to injury, a holding penalty in the end zone against guard Quinn Meinerz actually handed the Jets a temporary lead of 11-10.
Nix did manage to regain some composure in the fourth quarter, connecting on four passes during a drive that ultimately led to a go-ahead field goal by Wil Lutz. But the drama wasn't over yet! A sack on third down with just three minutes remaining gave the Jets one last chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The Jets managed to cross midfield, but... and this is the part most people miss... a crucial sack by Justin Strnad pushed them back, and another sack on fourth down sealed the Broncos' win. The real head-scratcher? The Jets chose to run a play on that final down instead of attempting a potentially game-winning 62-yard field goal. Was that the right call?
The Jets' offensive struggles were evident, amassing a mere 82 total yards. Fields completed only 9 of 17 passes for a paltry 45 yards. The Broncos weren't much better, with only 248 total yards. It's safe to say that the fans in London might not be clamoring to see either of these teams return anytime soon.
But the questionable decisions don't stop there. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is sure to face tough questions about his team's bizarre handling of the end of the first half. With the ball near midfield and trailing 10-6 with a minute left on the clock, the Jets ran three plays and then inexplicably allowed the final 35 seconds to tick away without attempting a fourth play. Given the team's current record and their position on the field in a close game, this decision-making is raising eyebrows and adding to the pressure on Glenn during what's already been a difficult start to his tenure.
The Jets will try again next Sunday as they host the Carolina Panthers, desperately seeking their first win of the season. Will they finally break through, or will the struggles continue? What did you think of the Jets' play-calling at the end of the first half? Was it a strategic blunder, or was there more to it than meets the eye? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
