Yet another ugly offensive performance for the New York Jets as they fail to find the end zone for the third time in the last five games. Just two field goals and a safety lit up the scoreboard for New York in their 13-8 loss in Week 13 to the Atlanta Falcons. That’s five straight losses for the Jets as they fall to 4-8 and likely ended any chance of quarterback Aaron Rodgers returning this season, let alone any hopes of a playoff spot.
Speaking of quarterbacks, the Jets made another in-game switch as Tim Boyle was benched in favor of Trevor Siemian, marking the third straight season the Jets have had four quarterbacks see action in a game.
Let’s run through some quick notes as the season is all but lost with five games left.
Final score: Falcons 13, Jets 8
Game notes
- Might as well start with this: it’s time to fire up those mock draft simulators. The season, for all intents and purposes, is officially over. The Jets are now 4-8 and were officially eliminated from the AFC East race with the loss and Miami’s 45-15 win over the Washington Commanders. The Jets are now headed for a top-10, maybe even top-5 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, a pick they’ll keep because Aaron Rodgers did not play 65% of the offensive snaps.
- Speaking of Rodgers, see you in 2024. Any chance there was of him playing again this season went up in smoke with this game. The Jets will roll with whoever the quarterback is.
- That quarterback may be Trevor Siemian after the Jets benched Tim Boyle, the second time in three games the team made a switch during a game. Boyle replaced Zach Wilson in the Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Robert Saleh wouldn’t commit to a quarterback for Week 14 against the Houston Texans, but you have to think it’s Siemian’s time. It would mark the first time since 1989 the Jets had four quarterbacks start a game in a season.
- Boyle went 14/25 for 148 yards and an interception. The pick was the last throw he made. Siemian came in on the next drive in the fourth quarter.
- For the third time in five games, spanning almost 50 possessions, the Jets did not find the end zone. New York reached the red zone just once Sunday, yet again settling for a field goal.
- Third down was once again a problem for the Jets, going 2/15. Atlanta went 4/14.
- The offensive line doesn’t help, but in his first game since being called out by Saleh, Breece Hall rushed for just 16 yards on 13 carries. Hall had 50 or fewer rushing yards in seven straight games since his 177-yard performance against the Broncos in Week 5.
- Dalvin Cook looked good in this game, but when he would gain some momentum, the Jets would pull him. Cook ran for 35 yards on nine carries. Israel Abanikanda did not get a touch in this game. The Jets have to get him involved in some form going forward.
- The Jets actually outgained the Falcons, 259-194, so credit the defense yet again. Jermaine Johnson and Quinton Jefferson each came away with 1.5 sacks of Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder.
- It feels both incredible and fitting that the Jets’ only lead of the game was 2-0. The Jets tackled Falcons running back Bijan Robinson in the end zone late in the first quarter for a safety. The Falcons scored early in the second quarter to take a 7-2 lead and the Jets never led again.
- Three turnovers for the Jets while not getting any takeaways from Atlanta. You’re not going to win too many football games losing the turnover battle like that. The Jets now have a -4 turnover differential through 12 games.
- For those now following the draft order, the Jets are among four teams sitting at 4-8 along with the Bears, Giants and Titans. The Commanders are 4-9 and they visit New York on Christmas Eve.
It was over when...
…Siemian lost a fumble late in the game as the Jets had a chance to drive and take the lead, but yet again, bad luck strikes the Jets. Story of the season. The Jets also had a fourth-quarter drive that started at Atlanta’s 48. They went backwards one yard and had to punt.
3 stars of the game
1st star: Jermaine Johnson – Another day, another excellent performance for Johnson, who has been growing into a star this season as a sophomore. Johnson added 1.5 sacks against the Falcons, bringing his total to 6.5 for the season. He has five games to get 3.5 sacks to reach double-digits for the season. Johnson also had two tackles for a loss and three quarterback hits.
2nd star: Quinton Jefferson – Jefferson matched Johnson’s 1.5 sacks. Jefferson has quietly had a nice season in his first year with the Jets. He’s now right behind Johnson with six sacks for the season. Like Johnson, Jefferson had three quarterback hits and added a tackle for a loss.
3rd star: Xavier Gipson – Gipson had one of his best games this season with a game-high 77 yards on five catches. The Jets finally started getting creative on offense with a flea-flicker to Gipson, who should start getting involved more in the offense.
Play of the game
The defense was stout again. New York recorded their third safety of the season as they stuffed Bijan Robinson in the end zone for the two points en route to holding Robinson to just 53 yards on 18 carries. The Jets are the only team with multiple safeties this season.
QUINNEN WILLIAMS, THE BEST RUN DEFENDER IN FOOTBALL.#ATLvsNYJ on FOX pic.twitter.com/Jf0vAJr2UV
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 3, 2023
What's next?
The Jets will wrap up their three-game homestand and play their penultimate home game this season in Week 14 as they welcome C.J. Stroud and the 7-5 Houston Texans, 22-17 winners in Week 13 over the Denver Broncos.
