The Chargers (4-4) got a much-needed 27-6 win over the Jets (4-4) to get back to .500 on Monday night. Here are the main takeaways from an ugly night of football.
Zach Wilson could cost people their jobs: Wilson was atrocious, but that was to be expected. It’s who he is. He finished Monday’s game 33-of-49 for 263 yards (5.4 yards per attempt) and lost 57 yards on eight sacks while losing two of his three fumbles.
What’s more troubling is Jets general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh not doing anything to improve the team at quarterback after losing Aaron Rodgers for the season in Week 1.
The Jets had plenty of time to get someone else in the building but chose not to. Because of negligence at the top, New York will probably squander its elite defense for the second year in a row.
Wouldn’t this offense have looked better with Joshua Dobbs running it, for example? Douglas and Saleh should have seen this coming and the fact they didn’t should lead to some hot seats in New York.
Good Chargers defense or bad Jets offense?: How much credit do we give the Chargers defense for their performance? They shouldn’t be penalized for doing what a good defense would do against a bad opponent, but it’s also hard to get too excited about Los Angeles knowing the level of competition.
The Chargers defense was on the field for the majority of the game — New York won the time of possession 34:27-25:33 — but constantly created havoc with eight sacks and three forced turnovers.
Prior to Week 9, Los Angeles ranked 31st in total defense (390.9 yards per game), including last against the pass (297.4 yards per game), and 23rd in scoring defense (24 points per game). We’ll learn a lot more about the unit next Sunday against the Lions (6-2).
Jets defense deserved the win: Pundits talk often about coaches losing locker rooms. At what point does that become a concern in New York? The defense did everything it could only to be let down by the pathetic Jets offense.
New York held Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to 16-of-30 for 136 yards (4.5 yards per attempt) with five sacks and an even worse passer rating (65.4) than Wilson (80.6). Running back Austin Ekeler averaged 3.4 yards per carry, and wide receiver Keenan Allen averaged 9.6 yards per catch.
For the game, New York outgained Los Angeles 270-191 and the Chargers scored their three touchdowns on a punt return and on drives that began at midfield and the Jets’ 2-yard line.
Based on the defense’s performance, New York should have won on Monday. With the offense costing the Jets another game, it’s fair to wonder how long until the defense breaks.
