New York Jets (4-4) – Los Angeles Chargers (4-4): 6-27
Two good defenses, two very bad offensive lines. The recipe was there for a match without flights on Monday in New York. In this little game, the Chargers won having only accumulated 191 yards in attack.
The difference is the balls lost by New York. Two fumbles from Zach Wilson (33/49, 263 yards, 8 sacks), another for Garrett Wilson (7 rec, 80 yards). Errors which offered good positions and points to the visitors. The Los Angeles special teams also did their part.
The Chargers were lucky when the Jets didn’t capitalize on some of their mistakes. Three times Los Angeles players lost the ball before recovering their own fumble. In the end, the Chargers were never really worried. They led the whole match. Justin Herbert (16/30, 136 yards, 5 sacks) only had to do the minimum, helped by Austin Ekeler (14 races, 47 yards, 2 TDs – 2 rec, 23 yards). But it was Joey Bosa (2.5 sacks), Khalil Mack (2 sacks) and Tuli Tuipulotu (2 sacks) who were the stars of the evening.
Derius Davis makes lightning speak
The first touchdown of the game comes on a punt return. After the Jets’ first sterile offensive, Derius Davis returned the ball 87 yards to open the scoring (0-7).
If the Chargers’ offense also stalls, the tone is set when Garrett Wilson gets the ball snatched. Without consequence. But on the following offensive, it was Zach Wilson who was dispossessed of the leather by Joey Bosa. Los Angeles starts from midfield. Austin Ekeler slips between the defenders and widens the gap (0-14). That’s about it in terms of spectacle in the first half. Both teams score once with a kick. For the rest, seven punts are exchanged. 17-3 at the break in favor of the visitors.
The points still came in the third and the beginning of the fourth quarter. A new success everywhere (6-20).
Zach Wilson not helped and not better, the Jets stuck
The final blow finally came with just under four minutes to go. Zach Wilson continues to see defenders rush at him. He still doesn’t handle pressure any better. Khalil Mack rips her off once again. Alohi Gilman picks it up and goes 48 yards. Austin Ekeler only has 2 yards to go for the 27-6.
The last offensive of the match allowed Wilson and company to inflate their statistics, before a failure on their fourth attempt. Without this drive, New York would not have even exceeded 200 yards in the entire game. A mark that the Chargers did not even need to reach (191 yards). The difference is that they did not lose the ball and knew how to take advantage of opposing errors.
As usual, the Jets defense did what it could. But it’s impossible to string together victories when the offensive line and the quarterback are at this level.
The Chargers, for once, didn’t scare themselves too much.
