'24 seconds? No problem': Jets' unbelievable win over Giants keeps wildest dreams intact
EAST RUTHERFORD – All it took were a few, late Meadowlands miracles Sunday to keep the Jets’ wildest dreams intact.
In a stunning turn of events, “the mindset went from…‘We lost the game,’ to ‘Oh, wow – they messed up,’ ’’ Jets receiver Garrett Wilson said after a shocking 13-10 overtime victory over the Giants.
“We were all looking at each other like, ‘All right, we’ve got a second chance here.’ And that’s all you can you ask for, another chance.’’
Wasn’t it all but over with 93 seconds left, Giants ahead 10-7, when Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was sacked on fourth down at the Jets' 26?
Weren’t the Jets pretty much cooked when Graham Gano lined up for a lead-extending 35-yard field goal – only to miss it wide at half-crazed MetLife Stadium?
Wouldn’t it take a grand leap of faith to expect Zach Wilson, continually frustrated by the Giants’ defense, to engineer a game-tying drive with 24 seconds left?
Well, two 29-yard pass plays later and a spike with one second left led to Greg Zuerlein’s 35-yard field goal, forcing overtime.
Once more, the Jets’ ruthless defense stopped the Giants on their first overtime possession, leading to Zuerlein’s game-winning 33-yarder in the rain.
And now, “everything is back in play for us this year,’’ said veteran punter Thomas Morstead of the Jets’ 4-3 record heading into Monday night’s MetLife date with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Jets' miracle comeback
Having left the Giants (2-6) crushed and their season in peril, these Jets knew they pulled off a 100-1 shot against their co-tenants.
“(There’s) a lot of things we’ve got to clean up,’’ said Jets coach Robert Saleh, reflecting on inexcusable costly penalties and a woeful third-down conversion rate.
“But glad we came out with a W.’’
As advertised, the Jets’ defense kept them in it, essentially eliminating any Giants passing game after forcing quarterback Tyrod Taylor from the game with a second-quarter rib injury.
“They were getting us the ball a lot,’’ said Zach Wilson. “We need to play more balanced football and help them out offensively by scoring some points and converting on some third downs.’’
Wilson threw for 240 yards, but 108 of those yards came on three plays – including Breece Hall’s 50-yard touchdown, zigging and zagging his way through the Giants defense on a short pass.
But the passes that undoubtedly made the sidelined Aaron Rodgers proud came after the Giants handed the Jets another chance, with no timeouts remaining and employing a third string center.
“Oh, 24 seconds?’’ Wilson said. “No problem.’’
Sauce Gardner: 'I couldn't wait to go against them'
Until that last-gasp shot at a game-tying field goal, “it was a pretty (crappy) feeling’’ on the Jets sideline, said tight end Tyler Conklin.
Beating the Giants “definitely meant a lot,’’ said Conklin, and star cornerback Sauce Gardner said he was “definitely looking forward to this one’’ after a week spent witnessing a lot of Giants social media hype.
“I wanted it kind of bad… I couldn’t wait to go against them.’’
Back in the secondary after a Jets bye, having missed his team’s upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles the previous week, Gardner (concussion) had willingly admitted that “I thought it was over’’ in the waning moments of the fourth quarter.
“I don’t even know how it happened,’’ said Gardner, who was taking the athletic tape off his hands when Gano’s field-goal attempt sailed wide.
“That’s on me for not having all the faith at the end,’’ said Gardner. But as someone aspiring to be a team leader, “I’ve got to be able to lead through the good and the bad.’’
In those spare seconds left in regulation, Zach Wilson connected with Garrett Wilson for 29 yards, then hit Allen Lazard for another 29, leading to a rush to stop the clock.
With one second left.
“I felt like we could have been a lot better,’’ Hall said after the Jets’ stunning win. “I felt we were the better team outright and we shouldn’t have been in this position.’’