LAS VEGAS — Jets fans traveled here by the thousands for Sunday night’s game against the Raiders. They packed the sports books and and filled blackjack tables on the the Strip, greeting each other with an encouraging word about their team’s situation or a “J-E-T-S” chant.
Their green shirts and jerseys stood out in the sea of black and silver in the packed stands, and their cheers echoed through Allegiant Stadium every time the Jets made a big play.
But in the end, they all came to the epicenter of American entertainment to watch a rerun. The defense kept them in the game for as long as it could, but the offense wasn’t good enough as the Jets lost 16-12 to a Raiders team they should have beaten.
They nearly pulled out a miracle on the final play, but Zach Wilson’s heave to Garrett Wilson hit the receiver in the hands and fell harmlessly to the turf.
For the Jets of the past two years, it’s all too familiar of a result. Their defense continues to prove that it’s good enough to beat anyone. But the offense can’t get the job done. The Jets have now gone 166:06 since their last touchdown.
And it was even worse for the Jets and their fans that they had to watch the Raiders beat them with a rookie quarterback and an interim head coach less than two weeks after the Raiders made the move to go both.
Raiders rookie Aidan O’Connell finished 16-of-27 for 153 yards and the game winning touchdown with about six minutes left in the game.
Zach Wilson finished 23-of-39 for 263 yards but once again, no touchdowns. His interception-free streak came to an end on his 155th pass: in the last two minutes with the Jets deep in Raiders territory.
The Jets came back from the bye with hope of turning this rollercoaster season into an improbable playoff run. And after a stunning last-second comeback against the Giants, they had control of their fate in the AFC East.
All they had to do was beat two teams with a below .500 record and they’d be tied for the AFC East lead…
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