Garrett Wilson called it “a glimpse.’’
And that’s exactly what it was. A flicker of hope for the future, beginning in 2024.
This season for the Jets has been filled with far too much doom and darkness, beginning with the freak season-ending Achilles injury to quarterback Aaron Rodgers four plays into it and including the 12 different offensive line combinations the team has trotted out in its 15 games.
The results for Jets fans have sucked, no playoff team for the 13th consecutive year.
But on a Christmas Eve Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, Jets fans were able to see a critical piece of the future and that piece was running back Breece Hall, who produced 191 yards of total offense in the Jets’ 30-28 survival of a win over Washington.
Did we all — Hall at the head of that list — expect more out of Hall this season after his electric seven games as a rookie in 2022 before he was lost for the season with a knee injury?
Of course.
But there, of course, have been mitigating circumstances — the most prominent of which being that he’s one of two offensive players opposing defense have needed to worry about when game-planning the quarterback-challenged Jets.
So, the numbers, in the big picture, haven’t been there, Hall entering the game with a modest 637 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
On Sunday, he matched those two rushing touchdowns, scoring twice on the ground.
He ran 20 times for 95 yards and caught 12 passes for 96 yards.
And, on a day when The Post’s Brian Costello reported exclusively that team owner Woody Johnson said he’s running it back with head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, one of their most important pieces for 2024 and beyond was the best player on the field.
“I wholeheartedly do think I’m one of the best running backs in the league,’’ Hall said after the game.
There wasn’t a player or coach on the Jets who’d disagree.
“Ooooh,’’ guard Laken Tomlinson said when asked about Hall’s day. “He’s a beast, man. Did you see that kid out there? When he’s out there rolling and having fun it’s awesome for us, especially for the guys up front. We’ve just got to try to get him some more. We’ve got to let him eat. He’s a hell of a player. I’m proud of that kid.’’
When Hall’s “one of the best’’ proclamation was relayed to Tomlinson, he said, “Of course. He has a ton of confidence and a ton of talent. Obviously, today he showed what he can do. You see it.’’
The Commanders saw it, and they couldn’t stop it.
“He’s so special,’’ Wilson said. “He’s the best in the league. I can’t wait for the world to be able to see that. This was like a glimpse of that today and I feel like there’s a lot more where that came from. He’s so special and it’s effortless. He’s got it.’’
What Hall did was get the Jets a victory on Sunday. He was the best player on the field.
You could have forgiven Hall if he’d forgotten what the end zone looked like. It had been a while since he scored — particularly on a running play. So, when Hall burst through the left side of the offensive line on the Jets’ third offensive possession, it looked like all he saw was end zone.
Daylight amidst a very dark season.
Running behind a punishing block by tight end Jeremy Ruckert, Hall gave the Jets a 17-0 lead a 36-yard scoring run — untouched.
It was Hall’s first rushing touchdown since Oct. 15 when he scored against the Eagles and he called it “a perfect play.”
“I kind of knew just from the front [the Commanders] were in,’’ Hall said. “I knew it was going to be a good play; I didn’t know it was going to be a touchdown. It’s cool when you can get the ball and kind of just stop and let everything develop and shoot through the hole.’’
His second touchdown was a 2-yard run that gave the Jets a 27-7 lead late in the first half.
Sunday was a respite from what has been a trying season for Hall. He entered the game having rushed for a combined 144 yards in the previous six games. Dating further back, in his previous nine games after rushing for a career-high 177 yards in Denver, Hall had gained a total of 250 yards on 99 carries with no touchdowns.
“It’s been frustrating for me with the injuries and having a lot of different lineups up front [on the offensive line] this season,’’ Hall said. “I just go out every week and try to put my best foot forward with the opportunities I get. And today I did. That’s what it was.’’
It was something to see.
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