The New York Jets faced a difficult outing in Week 4, enduring a narrow 10-9 loss at home to the Denver Broncos. This defeat not only dropped their record to an even 2-2 for the 2024 season but also brought to light a plethora of issues on the offensive side of the ball, particularly in terms of penalties.
Penalty Plague
The Jets committed a staggering 13 penalties during the game, the most in the NFL for Week 4. Out of these, eight were on the offensive end, a significant uptick considering they only had eight offensive penalties in the first three weeks of the season combined, tying them for the 10th-fewest in the league. Specifically, five of these infractions were false starts, revealing a glaring problem in their offensive discipline.
Among the prime offenders, left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall each were flagged twice for false starts. Left tackle Tyron Smith also added one to the tally. This surge in penalties is particularly perplexing given their previous record, having committed just one false start violation in the first three weeks.
The frustration from this unexpected breakdown was evident in the comments from team leaders. Head coach Robert Saleh reflected on the bizarre spike in penalties: "We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence. Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back."
Quarterback's Perspective
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, known for his meticulous approach to the game, echoed Saleh's concerns but also suggested a need for accountability rather than sweeping changes. "That's one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable. We haven't had an issue. We've only had one false start. [Right tackle] Morgan had one false start I believe until this. You know it's been a weapon. We use it every day in practice. We rarely have a false start. To have five today it seemed like, four or five. Yeah, it seems like an outlier. I don't know if we need to make mass changes based on kind of an outlier game," Rodgers stated.
Rodgers' emphasis on attention to detail is well-known, and former teammates and analysts have lauded his use of the hard count as a tactical advantage. Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly noted, "He nailed it: 'my hard count is a weapon.' The amount of big plays, go ask Jordy Nelson. 'Hey Jordy, do you think the hard count that Aaron Rodgers has is effective?' He would say, 'Yeah, I got paid a lot of money on go balls that Aaron threw me after a defensive lineman jumped offsides.'" This point underscores how essential precise execution is to Rodgers' style and success.
Attention to Detail
Davante Adams, a former Green Bay Packers receiver, emphasized this aspect further, drawing from his experience playing alongside Rodgers. "Aaron is all about the attention to detail. So, snap count, that's attention to detail. You got to be locked in on something like that. We always talked about in Green Bay 'that the play is hard enough to win on its own, so let's not lose it pre-snap.' ... At least let's get our pre-snap operation smooth.' Everybody hears the same snap count in the huddle, so there's really no excuse for one of these things. Holding people accountable, I agree (with Rodgers). Sometimes that's what you have to do versus run from it. Have certain consequences if guys can't get right," Adams explained.
Missed Opportunity
Adding to the Jets' woes, kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a crucial 50-yard field goal with just 51 seconds left on the clock. This missed opportunity could have put the Jets ahead and shifted the game's momentum, but instead, it left the team grappling with a one-point loss.
The blend of uncharacteristic penalties and crucial missed opportunities has left the Jets at a pivotal point early in the season. With plenty of time to correct these issues, the focus for Saleh and his coaching staff will undoubtedly be on cleaning up the mental errors and ensuring that the offensive unit finds its rhythm once more.