The Jets have had a surprisingly strong start to the 2022 season, but it hasn’t been due to Zach Wilson’s passing. If anything, the second-year quarterback’s limitations have held back New York’s potential in the AFC playoff race. We saw this once more against the Patriots (-3) on Sunday.
As the New England defense tightened its vise grip around the Jets’ offense, Wilson began to press, and press, and press some more. It led to some of the more mind-boggling interceptions you might see all season from any quarterback.
First, with the Jets nursing an early 10-3 lead, Wilson threw a ball off his backfoot … right to Ja’Whuan Bentley:
Second career pick for @NVBentley33!
📺: #NEvsNYJ on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/a0w93yWa9w
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 30, 2022
Then, late in the third quarter, with the Jets chasing a 19-10 lead, Wilson just tried to throw the ball away. Uh, the ball stayed completely in-bounds and was intercepted by Devin McCourty:
.@man_dammn with the pressure, @McCourtyTwins with the pick!
📺: #NEvsNYJ on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/L385BnniT7
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 30, 2022
Just a few minutes later, early in the fourth quarter, once again Wilson tried to throw the ball away. And once again, the throwaway went right to McCourty. Awkward:
Once again 🗣@McCourtyTwins | #ForeverNE
📺: #NEvsNYJ on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/hjwIBQhnBA
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 30, 2022
There’s throwing picks, and there’s throwing picks and making them look like art. Wilson has that skill down pat.
All told, that was three picks in five possessions for Wilson as the Patriots started to bury the Jets. And none of those picks were even competitive, in the least for the offense. Truly, a brutal afternoon for the New York passer.
[mm-video type=video id=01ggg7279ca5sbagb3h7 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01ggg7279ca5sbagb3h7/01ggg7279ca5sbagb3h7-f0a0111d75825273edac7d0c5a8ae80a.jpg]
[listicle id=1973068]