The Denver Broncos survived the New York Jets -- somehow.
In a game that set offensive football back 50 years, the Broncos needed a 27-yard field goal from Wil Lutz late in the fourth quarter to escape with a 13-11 victory. Denver managed just 71 yards in the second half, and rookie quarterback Bo Nix went 4 of 10 for 49 yards -- but three points were enough to get the Broncos to 4-2 on the season.
An a game that set offensive football back 50 years, the Broncos needed a 27-yard field goal by Wil Lutz late in the fourth quarter to pull off a 13-11 victory. The Broncos only had 71 yards in the second half, and Bo Nix was 4 of 10 for 49 yards -- but three points was enough in the second half to get Denver to 4-2 on the season.
This game was more about the Jets' offensive ineptitude than anything else. New York finished with minus-10 net passing yards, the fewest by any team in an NFL game since 1998. Justin Fields was sacked nine times by the swarming Broncos defense as the Jets averaged minus-0.4 yards per attempt and 1.4 yards per play. They scored two first-half field goals without recording a single first down, cashing in on a takeaway and a 72-yard kick return. Their other points came via a safety, which actually gave New York an 11-10 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The lone touchdown of the game? A Bo Nix strike to tight end Nate Adkins, who had just two receptions all season entering Sunday. Denver finished with 246 total yards and averaged 4.3 yards per play.
It certainly wasn't football's finest spectacle in London -- but it counts all the same. If you missed anything from the game, check out the live blog below. Here are the biggest takeaways from the international matchup:
The Jets have been a poor offensive team all season, but Sunday marked rock bottom. They finished with minus-10 net passing yards, their fewest in franchise history, and had zero net passing yards heading into their final drive with a chance to win.
It was the fewest net passing yards by any team in a game since the 1998 Chargers, when Ryan Leaf went 1 of 15 for 4 yards. Fields wasn't that bad, but his final line -- 9 of 17 for 45 yards with nine sacks -- pushed the Jets into negative territory.
New York went 2 of 15 on third down, totaled just 83 yards of offense and averaged a meager 1.4 yards per play. Its longest drive covered 37 yards on 10 plays -- and even that ended in a field goal. The Jets never reached the red zone.
The only thing Glenn has going for him is that his team still plays hard - at least that was the case this week. The Jets lack talent across the roster, but there's an argument they should have two wins this season. They don't -- and that's on Glenn.
What the Jets' head coach did in the final minute of the first half was inexcusable. Facing a fourth-and-1 from their own 37-yard line in a 10-6 game, the Jets ran a fake punt -- and converted it. But instead of capitalizing, chaos followed. They handed off to Breece Hall for a short gain, then Fields took a sack, and with no timeouts remaining, the Jets let the clock bleed out. After a short 6-yard completion, Glenn simply allowed the half to expire.
Garrett Wilson was visibly frustrated, letting his coach know about it on the sideline. Glenn essentially passed up a chance at points -- or even an opportunity to try for them -- in a half he was lucky to still be in. It's emblematic of why the Jets are 0-6, and part of the larger struggles Glenn is facing in his first year at the helm.
For a team that beat the Eagles last week, the Broncos looked nothing like that group in London. A fumble on the third offensive play of the game led to a Jets field goal, and then a 72-yard kick return led to another Jets field goal. Bo Nix was sacked in the end zone for a safety in the second half. So, eight of the Jets' 11 points came on Denver miscues.
So, how did the Broncos win? Their defense finished with nine sacks and held the Jets to 1.4 yards per play. The Jets couldn't get anything going in the passing game because of the Broncos' relentless pressure, as Field was 1 of 5 for minus-1 yard when pressured -- and sacked six times.
The Broncos defense is why they are 4-2, as the offense still has some things to work out. This group will carry Denver to the playoffs.
The Jets (0-6) host the Panthers next week while the Broncos (4-2) welcome the Giants.
The Jets finished with -10 net passing yards. Justin Fields essentially missed a wide open Garrett Wilson on 3rd-and-8. Then gets sacked on 4th-and-8 from the Broncos 44. Fields was sacked 9 times.
Aaron Glenn passed on a 62-yard FG for the win, a game the Jets should have never been in. The Broncos don't play well at all, but they survive and improve to 4-2 while the Jets fall to 0-6.
7 sacks by the Broncos defense. The Jets have thrown the ball 15 times and dropped back 22 times, sacked 7 times. There's a reason why they don't throw.
Wil Lutz hits a 27-yard FG to give Denver a 13-11 lead. Jets will actually have to throw the ball in order to win this game -- perhaps. All New York needs is a FG. Can Justin Fields do it?
The 26-yard pass to Marvin Mims on 3rd-and-8 seemed to wake the Broncos up. Nix found Mims on a pass outside the hashmarks that got Denver deep into Jets territory. Jets defense has played well today, but they missed covering Mims there.
Trail 11-10 with 5:47 left
The Broncos have been just poor against the Jets, who have been ultra conservative in running the football and chewing clock. Denver will have another chance to try and win this game if they can top New York, who may go for it on 4th-and-1
This is just bad football. Not sure what is happening with either of these teams.
The Jets are winning with 1.8 yards per play and 8 net passing yards. They have a safety and forced two Broncos takeaways.
This is more about what the Broncos are doing than what the Jets are doing, but New York will take it.
The Jets run a 10-play drive, and only get 37 yards -- but it ends up in a FG to cut the deficit to 10-9. They then force a Broncos 3-and-out. The Broncos have been bad today, and would be losing to any other team in the NFL with the way they are playing.
This was after the comedy of errors in the first half. Glenn's clock management is abysmal. No wonder the Jets are 0-5.
This first half just shows the incompetence of Aaron Glenn as a had coach. The Jets run a fake punt on 4th-and-1 with 1:04 left in a 10-6 game at the Broncos at the Jets 37-yard line. They get it, but they run a run play to Breece Hall, then Justin Fields gets sacks, and the Jets have no time outs. They let the clock RUN OUT after Fields throws a 6-yard pass and the Jets sit at their own 41.
Nothing further, the Broncos let time run out -- not even trying to get a punt return. The Jets get the ball in the second half, but this was comical.
How Glenn is an NFL head coach I have no clue.
The ex-Giants offensive lineman is starting in place of Ben Powers at left guard and has been awful. Three penalties for Peart have killed three Broncos drives, and leaving the Jets -- who don't have a first down -- in the game. All the [enalties are holding penalties, and all are in the first half.
Ex-Giants offensive lineman -- enough said.
Through four possessions, the Jets have run 14 plays and have 1 total yard. They have 6 points thanks to special teams and a takeaway on defense. This last possession they had -13 yards.
They are averaging -1.7 net yards per attempt. 0.1 yards per play. It's as bad as it looks, and yet they are down just 10-6.
Adkins was +8000 to score the first TD of the game. he had just two TD catches all season prior to that reception. If you actually put money on that, congrats to you!
After miscues on offense and special teams, Sean Payton decides to go bold and go for it on 4th-and-5 at the Jets 47-yard line. This was after the Broncos faced a 2nd-and-20 just two plays earlier as a result of a holding penalty. They converted on a Bo Nix throw to Evan Engram -- and the offense did the rest.
Nix found Nate Adkins for a 16-yard touchdown to give Denver the lead, finding him on a wheel route the Jets didn't see coming. Perhaps this is what gets the Broncos going, as Payton has a good feel for his team and what they are doing with the ball. That 4th down call was huge.
Kene Nwangwu takes a kick 72 yards deep into Broncos territory, but the Jets go 3-and-out again. The Jets have 8 plays for 9 yards -- but they have 6 points and are leading.
This offense is bad, but Broncos mistakes on offense and special teams got them 6 points. Still early in this game.
Denver fumble don its firts possession, which led to a New York FG. The Broncos then had just 28 yards on their 2nd possession, but Wil Lutz hit a 57-yard FG to tie the game up at 3-3 midway through the first quarter.
Bo Nix is 5-of-6 for 33 yards, but just like last week -- Denver is off to a slow start.
The Jets didn't have a takeaway through the firts 5 games. They have to go across the pond to get one, getting a fumble recovery on the third play of the game.
Even funnier, broadcaster Rich Eisen said on the telecast the Jets didn't have a takeaway through five games. They get the takeaway on the exact same play.
And it involves Justin Fields. The Jets aren't a good team, but have a stable QB in Fields, who is the 1st player in NFL history with 750+ pass yds, 200+ rush yds & 0 INT through 4 games played in a season.
And the Jets are still 0-5.
The Jets have started a season 0-5 for 4th time in franchise history and the 1st time the franchise has started 0-5 since starting 0-13 in 2020. The road hasn't been good for Aaron Glenn, who is the first head coach to start his tenure 0-5 in Jets history.
Glenn is the first head coach to start his career 0-5 with 27+ points allowed in each game since Jimmy Johnson in 1989. The end result worked well for Johnson in Dallas. Can the same happen for Glenn?
