Zach Wilson wasn’t the reason the Jets upset the Eagles on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
But, perhaps more importantly, he didn’t provide a reason for them to lose either.
The most important statistic associated with the Jets third-year quarterback in the team’s 20-14 stunner over the Eagles was ZERO.
As in zero turnovers.
His counterpart from Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts, who happens to be one of the most dynamic talents at the position, turned the ball over three times on interceptions and that’s why Wilson and the Jets won the game.
Before the Jets scored the game-winning touchdown on an eight-yard Breece Hall run after the fourth turnover forced by the defense, Wilson and the offense were 0-for-4 in the red zone.The Jets had settled for four Greg Zuerlein field goals to that point and were trailing, 14-12.
After the game, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said he thought Wilson “did a good job,’’ adding: “There are some things that we can clean up third-down wise. Finishing in the red zone is always going to be a thing that the quarterback has to own.’’
Legendary coach Bill Parcells always said he judged a quarterback’s performance by how often he gets his team into the end zone.
Wilson didn’t do a great job of that Sunday, but he did make some good, decisive throws in big moments.
Wilson said he wasn’t “concerned’ about the lack of production in the red zone, but he did say: “I was frustrated.’
“Too many negative plays, too many things kicking us out of having a chance to really have an opportunity to go get a touchdown there,” Wilson said. “Super frustrating, two weeks in a row we’re not scoring touchdowns. We’ve got to find a way and we’re going to do that. We’re going to go back and watch this tape and see how we can score some touchdowns.’’
Wilson visited with Aaron Rodgers, who was on the field before the game throwing passes despite his ruptured Achilles.
Wilson called the victory “huge.’’
“I’m having tons of fun, especially when we pull out a big win like that. [I’m] just feeling like I’m getting into a flow,” Wilson said. “I get statistically and everything, things weren’t great. We’ll go back and watch the film, but I really feel like as an offense we’re really close in the passing game and then obviously the running game as well, too. I feel like we’re really close to letting things go.’’
Saleh concurred, saying: “We’re that freaking close offensively. Offensively, I thought we did a really nice job moving the ball, especially in the second half. I know the yardage isn’t going to look good, but I thought we moved the ball well in the second half and we gave ourselves opportunities. We have to finish. I think we will. We’re that freaking close.’’
In fairness, Wilson wasn’t helped by a 15-yard crack-back block called on receiver Allen Lazard that moved the offense out of the red zone and out of field goal range in the second half.
He also had a drive sabotaged by a big sack by Haasan Reddick that resulted from a missed blocking assignment.
“He is going to get better,’’ Saleh said of Wilson.
“He is taking all the right steps and I stand by what I have been saying — he is a dog, he takes those hits, he stands in there, he delivers it, he’s been balling and the way he communicates with us is really everything,’’ receiver Garrett Wilson said. “Each week has gotten better.’’
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