PITTSBURGH — Down 20-17 with 3:34 left within the fourth quarter, Jets quarterback Zach Wilson had a easy however straight-to-the-point assertion for his crew within the huddle because the drive began.
“Let’s score a f’ing touchdown,” Jets working again Breece Hall mentioned after the sport. “So that was our entire mentality.
“We weren’t really flustered or nervous. We just felt like we have to take one play at a time and we did that.”
The Jets definitely did that as Wilson and the Jets have been as soon as once more the very best when the chips have been down and the stakes have been excessive within the fourth quarter. Wilson accomplished solely 8 of 24 passes for 124 yards and two interceptions in the course of the first three quarters.
In his first sport again seven weeks after struggling a bone bruise and a meniscus tear, the second-year quarterback accomplished 10 of 12 passes for 128 yards and a landing in the course of the sport’s last quarter-hour.
After being down 20-10 halfway via the fourth quarter, Wilson led the Jets 91 yards, ending with a five-yard landing cross to receiver Corey Davis.
Then within the last drive, Wilson was an ideal 5-for-5 which helped get the Jets into Steelers’ territory inside three minutes. That arrange Hall’s one-yard landing run with 16 seconds left as he simply crossed the aircraft of the top zone.
“He doesn’t flinch,” Jets coach Robert Saleh mentioned. “There have been a few performs that I’m certain he needs he had again. The younger man doesn’t flinch.
“He got us out of a lot of bad situations with his mobility. I thought he played a pretty good game for his first game back.”
It took some time for it to manifest, however Wilson gave the Jets’ offense one thing it had been missing the primary three weeks of the season. Not solely did Wilson present poise to evade defenders when strain was coming his manner, however he additionally saved a cool, calm demeanor, one thing that wasn’t all the time evident at occasions final season.
As a rookie, Wilson typically compelled passes into protection and tried to place the sport on his again as an alternative of permitting his teammates to assist him. Although Wilson confirmed rustiness and displayed a few of those self same rookie errors, he was in a position to overcome his errors to assist the Jets come again from 10 factors down within the fourth quarter for the crew’s second comeback victory of the season.
“He balled out,” Michael Carter informed the Daily News. “He’s been balling, he was exhibiting out.
“I feel the factor that I’m most pleased with at this time is his calmness within the pocket. Everybody is aware of what he’s able to, however you continue to must go on the market and do it and that’s not the best factor on this planet.
“He showed some composure today.”
Now not like two weeks in the past, the Jets are hoping the return of Wilson and one other come-from-behind win will assist catapult them because the season goes on. Gang Green has a difficult 5 video games earlier than its bye week.
Next week, the Jets will host the Miami Dolphins earlier than occurring the highway in back-to-back weeks in opposition to the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos. Then the Jets will host the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills earlier than having their bye in Week 10.
The Jets are nonetheless looking for their identification offensively, particularly with Wilson again from damage. With backup Joe Flacco beginning the final three weeks, the crew averaged 52 cross makes an attempt a sport. That was not the case with Wilson again as Gang Green relied extra on the dashing assault in addition to the cross as evident by Hall’s 66 yards on 17 carries.
The jury continues to be out on if Wilson is the Jets’ reply on the quarterback place. However, if he can proceed to point out indicators of maturity together with management qualities, the crew will proceed to trust that they will come again from any deficit.
“I thought this was probably the most comfortable I’ve ever felt from a pregame standpoint coming into a game,” Wilson mentioned. “Of course, my expectation was that nothing goes to be excellent as a result of it’s not. It by no means is.
“I felt like I had the proper mentality and I felt like all people else did as properly. I really feel like feelings, the ups and downs of the sport.
“I spent a little time throwing with the guys and got on the same page. Second year, having a little bit of experience and knowing what to expect.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com