In a tightly contested matchup, the New York Jets suffered a heartbreak at home, narrowly losing 10-9 against the Denver Broncos. The Jets' self-inflicted wounds played a significant role in their defeat, committing an NFL-high 13 penalties during their Week 4 game.
Penalty Woes Plague Jets
The Jets now find themselves with a 2-2 record for the 2024 season. Their offensive unit, which had only eight penalties in the first three weeks, unravelled with eight penalties in this game alone. This uncharacteristic performance thrust them just behind the Houston Texans as the second-most penalized offense in Week 4.
A breakdown of the penalties reveals that five were due to false starts, which drastically affected the team's rhythm and momentum. Left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall were each flagged for two false starts, while left tackle Tyron Smith was caught once. This was particularly disconcerting given that the Jets had only one false start violation in the first three weeks of the season.
High Standards and High Penalties
Head coach Robert Saleh expressed his disappointment at the post-game press conference, emphasizing the need for improvement. "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," Saleh said.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, known for his meticulous attention to detail, echoed the sentiment, though he considered the penalties an outlier. "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 elaborated.
Voices from the Field
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly and former Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams weighed in on the topic, reinforcing Rodgers' point about the importance of cadence and attention to detail. Kuechly remarked, "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.'" Adams, who has previously played under Rodgers, highlighted the need for accountability, "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."
Missed Opportunity
The Jets had a chance to clinch the game in the final minute but fell short when kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 50-yard go-ahead field goal with 51 seconds left on the clock. This missed opportunity underscored how slim margins can determine the outcome of a game where every detail matters.
While the loss to the Broncos was a setback, the Jets’ early-season performance indicates the potential for a strong campaign. The team will need to quickly address these penalty issues to convert their potential into consistent success on the field.