By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
Notification Show More
Latest News
No. 11 Wisconsin stays red-hot with elusive win over Illinois, 95-74
No. 11 Wisconsin stays red-hot with elusive win over Illinois, 95-74
Game Analysis
LIV Golf explained | LIV on FOX
LIV Golf explained | LIV on FOX
Game Analysis
Shedeur Sanders might have revealed his preferred NFL team, all thanks to Madden
Shedeur Sanders might have revealed his preferred NFL team, all thanks to Madden
Game Analysis NFL
No. 14 Michigan St beats No. 13 Purdue 75-66, moves within half-game of 1st in Big Ten
No. 14 Michigan St beats No. 13 Purdue 75-66, moves within half-game of 1st in Big Ten
Game Analysis
Champions League: 10-man AC Milan eliminated, Club Brugge completes shocker
Champions League: 10-man AC Milan eliminated, Club Brugge completes shocker
Game Analysis
Aa
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Reading: Clutch defense powers Jets’ upset over Eagles
Share
Aa
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Search
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
BigPaulSports > Blog > NFL > Clutch defense powers Jets’ upset over Eagles
NFLSports News

Clutch defense powers Jets’ upset over Eagles

BigP
Last updated: 2023/10/16 at 9:21 PM
BigP Published October 16, 2023
Share
Clutch defense powers Jets' upset over Eagles
SHARE
  • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterOct 15, 2023, 10:43 PM ET

    Close

      Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets lost star quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the fourth play of the season, and now they’re taking it out on the elite quarterbacks they encounter on their schedule.

The Jets intercepted Jalen Hurts three times — twice in the fourth quarter — to spark a 20-14 upset of the previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. It was the Jets’ first-ever win over the Eagles after 12 losses, dating to 1973.

“These first six weeks, we played a gauntlet of quarterbacks and I know we haven’t gotten all wins, but we’ve embarrassed all of them,” coach Robert Saleh said after perhaps the biggest win of his 40-game tenure.

Maybe Saleh forgot about Dak Prescott, who ripped them for 255 yards and two touchdowns. But against Patrick Mahomes, Hurts and Josh Allen, who finished 1-2-3, respectively, in the 2022 NFL MVP voting, the Jets recorded eight interceptions with only three touchdown passes. They lost a 3-point game to Mahomes, but they delivered big play after big play in taking down Allen and Hurts.

“Our mindset is to scare — I mean, not scare people. Our mindset is to overpower people with our speed and our violence,” said linebacker Quincy Williams, who had one of the team’s four takeaways — a fumble recovery. “So that’s the biggest thing. So that’s our identity — violence.”

And clutch plays.

After the two-minute warning, safety Tony Adams set up the game-winning touchdown by intercepting Hurts on a third-and-9 pass from the Eagles’ 46 — his first career interception. Hurts threw into double coverage. Tight end Dallas Goedert was covered by Williams and Adams read it perfectly, returning it 45 yards to the Eagles’ 8-yard line. Breece Hall scored on the next play to give the Jets a 20-14 lead after a successful two-point pass.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Adams, cornerback Bryce Hall and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams each had an interception on a day in which the Jets played without three of their top four cornerbacks — Sauce Gardner (concussion), D.J. Reed (concussion) and Brandin Echols (hamstring). By the end of the game, they also didn’t have nickel back Michael Carter II (hamstring).

“I had a game winning interception before in college, but it was nothing like this,” said Adams, who made the roster in 2022 as an undrafted free agent. “To do it with these guys and this locker room — after all we went through, after the late news this week — it’s an honor. It’s an honor to [handle] business with these guys.”

Playing with backups and practice-squad call-ups, the Jets shut out the Eagles in the second half. In fact, the Eagles were held scoreless on their final seven drives, tied for their most consecutive drives without a point under coach Nick Sirianni.

It’s what the Jets do. They’re strong closers; they’ve allowed only 31 second-half points this season. This was their seventh win under Saleh (since 2021) after trailing by 10 or more points, tied with the Minnesota Vikings for the most such wins over that span.

“It’s a big win. They’re NFC Champs,” Saleh said. “We took the world champs [Kansas City] to the wire. We beat Buffalo. Probably let one slip away with the Patriots (a 15-10 loss). It is what it is. The Dallas game (31-10 loss) is what it is. I think we’ll always be in these games. I think we can go toe-to-toe with anybody.”

The Jets were staggered after Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, losing to Dallas and New England. At 1-2, with tension rising in the locker room and the pressure building on quarterback Zach Wilson, the Jets played well in a losing effort to Kansas City, then responded with back-to-back wins over Denver and Philadelphia.

“We wanted to be the best in the world and, in order to be the best you have to play against the best and beat them,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said.

Defensive end John Franklin-Myers said, “You’ve seen what we can do on a week-in, week-out basis. How can you count us out?”

The Jets fell behind, 14-3, sputtering in the red zone — an 0-for-3 to start the game, extending their red-zone drought to eight straight drives without a touchdown until Hall’s score. They rallied back with Greg Zuerlein’s second, third and fourth field goals and a defense that cranked up the pressure on Hurts. He was pressured on a season-high 40% of his dropbacks despite only a handful of blitzes, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

In the process, the Jets ended a most unusual streak — the longest winless drought against a single opponent. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson said he wasn’t aware of that until after the game.

“That’s crazy, I didn’t know that,” he said. “Jets Nation, you all deserve this.”

Sponsored Content

Bet the World Cup in Wager.dm

You Might Also Like

Shedeur Sanders might have revealed his preferred NFL team, all thanks to Madden

2025 NFL franchise tag tracker: Tee Higgins leads list of candidates (again)

Will the 49ers regret paying Brock Purdy? | First Things First

Panthers re-sign QB Andy Dalton on 2-year deal to keep mentoring Bryce Young

BigP October 16, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print

Follow US

Find US on Social Medias
Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Youtube Subscribe
Telegram Follow
newsletter featurednewsletter featured

Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

    Popular News
    Colts' Irsay treated for severe respiratory illness
    NFLSports News

    Colts’ Irsay treated for severe respiratory illness

    BigP BigP January 9, 2024
    Cowboys release WR Callaway following arrest
    ‘Ticked me off’: Lamar Jackson upset about Ravens’ inability to finish
    Source: NFL won’t discipline Seahawks’ Adams
    Meet the former national park tour guide now leading Navy football
    - Advertisement -
    Ad imageAd image

    Categories

    • Sports

    About US

    We offer information and tips on US Sports and evernts all over the world.
    Top Categories
    • Game Analysis
    • Free Picks
    • Services
    • Premium Content

    Subscribe US

    Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

      © Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.

      Removed from reading list

      Undo
      Welcome Back!

      Sign in to your account

      Lost your password?