Plagued by penalties in the first half, the Jets got some good fortune when DT Jeffrey Simmons was called for roughing the passer on Rodgers. The defender’s contact with the QB’s helmet negated a third-down incompletion and kept a drive alive. Then Hall took over, ripping off a 30-yard run down the sideline before making like a receiver and high-pointing a 26-yard scoring toss from Rodgers. The Jets had their first lead at 14-10.
“We flashed today, and I thought we played well but we were still just a little off,” Hall said. “We are getting close and that is most exciting thing. You got to grow from the losses and the wins. It was a good win today but I still feel like I left a play or two out there and I know the O-Line are the biggest critics of themselves. So it will be cool to get in there and watch it again and learn from it and be ready for Thursday.”
Trailing, 7-0, in the second quarter, the Jets offense found its footing on a 12-play, 73-yard march that was ignited by Rodgers’ 8-yard strike to Allen Lazard on third-and-8. Rodgers later connected with Wilson for a 17-yard gain before the two kept the drive going with a third-down conversion. Following the two-minute warning, Rodgers faked a short pass right and came back to rookie Allen who raced in from 12 yards out.
“I feel like all game, we were frustrated at times, but never got down on each other,” Rodgers said. ” It felt like we were supportive and positive, even though we were frustrated. I was frustrated not getting [Garrett] enough balls. And we didn’t run the ball very well for the two and a half quarters. We stayed confident and defense came up with a couple really big plays in the first half to keep it at one score game.”
A week after blowing a 17-point lead against the Bears, the Titans stuck first again, against the Jets. They drove 68 yards in 9 plays, ending the 6:38 possession on Ridley’s 10-yard end around past the pylon. The Jets committed three infractions on the drive as two calls were enforced and a Levis to Ridley 15-yard conversion on a third-and-5 gave the home club early momentum.
The defense took another blow in the second quarter when Mosley was carted off the field. While he was replaced in the lineup by Jamien Sherwood, the Jets stayed in the game early with a pair of takeaways. Levis panicked on a third-down red zone play, lateraling a ball in the direction of Tyjae Spears but Quincy Williams recovered for the visitors. After a Jets’ three-and-out, CB Brandin Echols intercepted a long Levis force attended for Treylon Burks.
Nick Folk’s 41-yard field goal gave the Titans a 10-7 lead at halftime, but the Jets were outgained 152 to 93 in the first two quarters. Rodgers and the offense totaled 265 yards but they made the plays when the game was on the line.
