Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is tackled by New York Jets safety Tony Adams and cornerback Michael Carter II. during the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
There was a reason the New York Jets were nine-point underdogs to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Without Aaron Rodgers, the Jets’ defense struggled to get stops, and the offense failed to protect the quarterback in the team’s 30-10 loss to the Cowboys in Arlington.
In a 20-point blowout, there are hardly many positives to look through. That being said, there were a couple of things that stood out in a good way for New York.
We go through the five biggest takeaways here.
Zach Wilson wasn’t the reason for the loss
We can argue about the three interceptions when the team was down three scores, or the fact the defense was on the field for an overwhelming amount of time, but Zach Wilson was not a problem for the Jets on Sunday. While the game was just a one-score contest, the Jets’ quarterback was the reason for the team still being in the game.
New York’s offensive problems rest solely along the offensive line. Wilson was pressured on 53% of his dropbacks – an absurd amount. The three interceptions were bad, but his touchdown throw to Garrett Wilson, and the improved footwork was a sign of improvement from the young quarterback.
He still has a long way to go, but Wilson was not the reason for the Jets loss.
O-Line is the team’s weakest link and needs changes
That reason was along the offensive line. The Jets were overmatched and outmanned in the trenches and it showed all game Sunday. Wilson and the receiving core did what they could, but it certainly wasn’t enough to thwart the likes of Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence.
The Jets needed to be able to be effective running the ball and they weren’t. They averaged under three yards a carry. They needed to protect the quarterback, and Wilson was harassed…
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