Jets beat Texans to snap five-game losing streak

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The New York Jets came through with a much-needed win in a strange Thursday night matchup against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans, posting a 21-13 victory at MetLife Stadium to snap a five-game losing streak stripe.

After a scoreless first half, Jets receiver Garrett Wilson gave New York a second-half shock on Halloween night with two one-handed touchdown catches, the second serving as perhaps the catch of the year to give the Jets early in the fourth quarter to take the lead.

The Texans got 106 rushing yards from running back Joe Mixon, but otherwise struggled as C.J. Stroud was sacked eight times and Ka’imi Fairbairn missed two field goals.

Here are the most important things to know for both teams starting Thursday evening:

The Jets emerged from their “moment of darkness” for a season-saving win with plenty of craziness, just what you’d expect on Halloween.

They overcame their worst play of the year (Malachi Corley’s fumble for a touchback) and followed it up with their best play (Wilson’s acrobatic fourth-quarter touchdown), leading to a gritty, if not artistic, win over the Texans.

The Jets snapped their five-game losing streak, giving interim coach Jeff Ulbrich his first win after three losses. They were desperate. Things were so bleak after Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots that Ulbrich dropped the quote “darkness.” His team, who suffered from several injuries during the match, showed great courage in recovering from a deficit of seven and three points, something that was missing.

They also showed resilience. The first half was so ugly (69 total yards) that disgruntled fans, some with bags over their heads, chanted, “Sell the team!” – directed at owner Woody Johnson, who turned the franchise upside down by firing Robert Saleh after five games.

If the Jets turn their season around, Wilson’s touchdown will be the turning point — a leaping, one-handed play at the back of the end zone that was one of the best catches of the season. Wilson, bouncing back from a bad game two weeks ago, scored two touchdowns to lead the way on a night where they were able to overcome a lot of mistakes.

Crucial game: The franchise that gave us the “Butt Fumble” (and other assorted bloopers over the years) delivered another moment of outrage. Corley scored an apparent touchdown on a jet sweep from 19 yards, but he released the ball before crossing the goal line and rolled the ball out of the end zone for a touchback – an unforgivable blunder in a then scoreless game in the second quarter. It was the first carry of his career and it would have been his first touchdown. You can bet the piece will be in lowlight films in 2024.

QB breakdown: Maybe Aaron Rodgers’ cayenne pepper/water concoction needed some time to work. After a terrible first half (he tied a career low with 32 yards passing), Rodgers perked up and threw for touchdowns in the second half, connecting with old friend Davante Adams for the game-clincher – Adams’ first touchdown as Jet. Rodgers (22-for-32, 211 yards) looked like a 40-year-old QB at times, but he made plenty of winning plays.

Promising trend: The front four provided the heat, as the Jets sacked CJ Stroud eight times. Defensive end Micheal Clemons and linebacker Jamien Sherwood led the way with two apiece, but it was tackle Quinnen Williams (one sack, seven pressures) and Haason Reddick (six pressures) who generated the most heat.

Troubling trend: What’s going on with Sauce Gardner? The All-Pro cornerback hasn’t been himself this season, and this was the latest illustration of a talented player struggling to find his mojo. On three consecutive plays in the second quarter, he missed a tackle, allowed a 32-yard completion and committed a holding penalty. It was his fifth penalty, equaling his total from 2023. He added a sixth later in the fourth quarter. Like many players on the team, Gardner has not lived up to expectations. — Rich Cimini

Next game: at Arizona Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, November 10)

The Texans’ loss was similar to their previous two defeats as they were plagued with offensive issues. In their losses they average 14 points, and it’s all about Stroud being under constant pressure.

Stroud was sacked eight times, a career high, which eclipsed a Houston rushing attack that totaled 187 yards. The Texans’ offensive struggles kept the Jets — who didn’t score a touchdown until early in the third quarter — alive. But Rodgers ultimately threw three touchdown passes in the second half while limiting the Texans’ offense to a paltry six points.

The Texans are only scoring 22.3 points per game, allowing teams to hang around. On Thursday, it cost them a game that they came into with a lot of momentum.

Troubling trend: The injuries to the Texan starters are piling up. In this game alone, Houston lost left tackle Laremy Tunsil (ankle), defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), left guard Kenyon Green (shoulder) during certain periods of the game. Even Stroud took a hit. Tunsil, Stroud and Anderson eventually returned to the game, but Green did not. The Texans were already without their wideout duo of Nico Collins (hamstring) and Stefon Diggs (knee), along with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and safety Jimmie Ward (groin).

Crucial game: Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was called for a questionable illegal contact on fourth down on the first play of the fourth quarter, negating an incompletion by Rodgers that would have turned the ball over to Houston on downs. A few plays later, Rodgers threw a touchdown pass that Wilson caught with one hand to put the Jets up 14–10.

Silver lining: The Texans get a mini-bye to get healthy for their Week 10 matchup against the 6-1 Lions. That will be a tough matchup, but at least the Texans will get healthier with the potential return of Collins, Al-Shaair and Ward.

Most surprising achievement: Tank Dell finished with six catches for 126 yards. This was his first 100-yard game since Week 11 in 2023. Dell’s performance was needed with wideouts Collins and Diggs sidelined. But the Texans couldn’t score more points. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Detroit Lions (8:20 PM ET, Sunday, November 10)