The best throws by a Jets quarterback on Monday night came about two hours before the game started when a recovering Aaron Rodgers was launching 50-yard passes during warm-ups.
Unfortunately for the Jets, Rodgers then donned a headset and Zach Wilson played the game.
Wilson had a miserable night and the Jets did not score a touchdown in a 27-6 loss to the Chargers that drops them to 4-4 this season and raises doubts about whether this team can really make a playoff run.
The only encouraging sign offensively was Rodgers launching those passes and walking to the locker room rather than taking a cart.
The Jets have to be wondering if Rodgers on one leg would be better than Wilson right now.
Wilson went 33-for-49 for 263 yards, most of those coming in garbage time.
Wilson was sacked eight times, fumbling twice on sacks.
The Jets have not scored a touchdown in their last seven quarters and an overtime period.
They have a dismal eight offensive touchdowns in eight games and four of those touchdowns came on one-play explosive drives.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett needs to get some heat. He has been unable to get this offense moving at all.
The Chargers entered Monday with a defense ranked No. 31 in the NFL in total defense and No. 32 in passing defense.
But against the Jets, they looked like the 2000 Ravens.
All of this offensive ineptitude wasted another strong performance by the Jets’ defense.
Los Angeles’ only touchdowns came off of a punt return and after a Jets turnover.
The Chargers (4-4) had six three-and-out drives.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was under siege from the Jets’ defensive line all night.
He finished 16 of 30 for 136 yards and was sacked five times.
The first half showed this would not be a night for offense and the Chargers took a 17-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Jets introduced punter Thomas Morstead at the start of their pregame introductions in honor of his big game last week against the Giants.
This being the Jets, that meant the team would give up an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown to Chargers returner Derius Davis after their first possession, spotting Los Angeles a 7-0 lead.
The special teams mishap was just the first mistake of the night for the Jets.
The first half featured two turnovers by the offense as well.
Garrett Wilson fumbled, but the Chargers were unable to capitalize off of it.
The Jets were not as lucky after the next turnover.
Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa blew past right tackle Billy Turner and sacked Wilson, forcing a fumble that he also recovered.
The Chargers took the ball 50 yards on eight plays after the fumble with Austin Ekeler running it in from the 1-yard line for the 14-0 lead.
Ekeler put the Chargers in scoring position with a 20-yard run on third down that got them to the 1.
The Jets’ offense opened up in a hurry-up but it did not result in much success.
Besides the two lost fumbles, the Jets also had a fumble on a third-down pitch to Breece Hall that he ended up recovering.
Greg Zuerlein got the Jets on the board with a 47-yard field goal with 5:57 left in the second quarter.
The field goal came after a third-down play when it appeared Wilson had ample room to run for a first down but he decided to flip it to Michael Carter instead and the running back was stopped.
As bad as the Jets’ offense was in the first half, the defense was terrific.
Herbert never looked comfortable as he was under constant pressure.
John Franklin-Myers and Quinton Jefferson each had a sack and Jermaine Johnson and Bryce Huff combined for another.
The Chargers tacked on a 55-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker just before halftime to push their lead to 17-3.
There were signs of life from the Jets’ offense to start the second half, but they did not last long.
Zach Wilson hit Garrett Wilson with a 31-yard pass on the first play of the half.
That started a drive where the Jets reached the Chargers’ 11, but two sacks pushed them back to the 28 and they had to settle for another Zuerlein field goal.
The 46-yarder cut the Chargers lead to 17-6 with 9:52 left in the third quarter.
On their next possession, the Jets converted a fourth-and-1 with a direct snap to Hall for a 2-yard gain.
The Jets made it to the Los Angeles 32 before a penalty on Jeremy Ruckert and another Bosa sack ended the scoring threat.
The Chargers got another field goal with 9:18 left in the game, this one a 38-yarder.
It was set up by a phenomenal catch from Keenan Allen to convert on third-and-4.
Allen was wide open but Herbert’s throw was long. Allen made an acrobatic, one-handed grab to keep the drive going. The field goal put the Chargers up 20-6.
The final humiliation of the night for the Jets’ offense came with 3:42 remaining in the game when Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack came around the edge to knock the ball out of Wilson’s hand.
Safety Alohi Gilman recovered for the Chargers and returned it 48 yards to the Jets’ 2.
Ekeler then plunged in for the touchdown and the 27-6 lead with 3:22 remaining.
The Jets would actually make it to the Chargers 2-yard line on their final drive of the night but Tyler Conklin was tackled there on fourth down to end the game.
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