Zach Wilson shakes off doubters but falls short in front of Rodgers and Swift

02 October 2023 , 04:02

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Zach Wilson threw for two TDs and zero INTs despite losing to the Chiefs

With an injured Aaron Rodgers in attendance, New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson found redemption from his disappointing performance last week.

Although he still fell short as the Jets lost a close game against the Kansas City Chiefs 23-20, Wilson completed 28 of 39 passes for 246 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. On the flip side, it was Patrick Mahomes who struggled, completing 18 of 30 passes for 203 yards with just one touchdown and two uncharacteristic interceptions.

Wilson started the second half by guiding the Jets on an impressive 75-yard drive, which concluded with Wilson delivering a precise 10-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard. Wilson ran the ball into the end zone for a two-point conversion to tie the game at 20 — a game the Jets once trailed 17-0.

The Jets' defense proved effective, forcing Mahomes into two interceptions during the game. It matched the total number of interceptions that the Chiefs' quarterback had thrown through the season's first three games.

Opposite of Wilson, Mahomes achieved a significant milestone by throwing his 200th career touchdown pass. He reached the feat in his 84th game, surpassing Hall of Famer Dan Marino's NFL record. However, he threw two interceptions in the first half, bringing his tally to three on the year.

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Mahomes' highest number of interceptions in a single game is three, which occurred on three separate occasions, all of which took place on the road. The first instance happened on Nov. 19, 2018, when he faced the Los Angeles Rams. The second occurred on Dec. 13, 2020, against the Miami Dolphins, and the third was on Dec. 11, 2022, when he faced the Denver Broncos.

Despite these challenging performances, the Chiefs QB secured victories in two of those three games, particularly when facing AFC teams. Fans attributed Mahomes' challenges to Taylor Swift's presence at MetLife Stadium. Swift was there to support his teammate, Travis Kelce, who is rumored to be her partner.

Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets congratulates Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs after the game at MetLife Stadium

Wilson's impressive performance was momentarily halted in the fourth quarter when the Jets turned the ball over for the first time. The turnover disrupted a drive with New York trailing by three points. Wilson struggled to handle the snap, resulting in Tershawn Wharton of the Chiefs recovering the ball for Kansas City.

During the broadcast, Cris Collinsworth compared Wilson and Rodgers with the broadcaster asserting that playing quarterback at a higher level was nearly impossible than what Wilson demonstrated. He referred to Wilson's third-quarter throws as "perfect," a term opposite of what the Jets' quarterback faced last week from the crowd against the New England Patriots in a 15-10 loss.

Despite the loss to Kansas City, Wilson will have the chance to continue his exceptional form in the team's Week 5 game against the Broncos. The Jets will be playing in the Mile High City with the hopes of securing a win against a team that has only won once this season.

Rory Robinson