The New York Jets endured a difficult defeat on home turf in Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season, narrowly losing 10-9 to the Denver Broncos. The loss wasn't just a close game—it was marred by an abundance of penalties that ultimately cost the team dearly. Leading the league in penalties this week, the Jets committed 13 infractions, a significant setback for any team's chances of securing a victory.
Notably, the Jets' offense was responsible for eight of those penalties, ranking them as the second-most penalized team in Week 4, trailing only the Houston Texans' nine penalties. Among these infractions, five false starts clarified the glaring issues in their offensive discipline. Left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall were each flagged for two false starts, while left tackle Tyron Smith contributed one more false start penalty.
A Departure from Early Season Discipline
This sudden surge in penalties was unexpected, considering the Jets had only committed eight offensive penalties in the first three weeks of the season, tying for the 10th-fewest in the NFL. The stark contrast in performance left many scratching their heads, including Head Coach Robert Saleh. “We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence,” Saleh remarked. “Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back.”
The Jets had only one false start violation in the first three weeks, making the five false starts in this game even more perplexing. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged the unusual spike in penalties and pondered over necessary adjustments. "That's one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable. We haven't had an issue. We've only had one false start. [Right tackle] Morgan had one false start I believe until this. You know it's been a weapon. We use it every day in practice. We rarely have a false start. To have five today it seemed like, four or five. Yeah, it seems like an outlier. I don't know if we need to make mass changes based on kind of an outlier game," Rodgers said.
Attention to Detail
Rodgers' emphasis on accountability and attention to detail is echoed by former Packers receiver Davante Adams, who highlighted the importance of smooth pre-snap operations. “Aaron is all about the attention to detail. So, snap count, that's attention to detail. You got to be locked in on something like that. We always talked about in Green Bay 'that the play is hard enough to win on its own, so let's not lose it pre-snap.' ... At least let's get our pre-snap operation smooth.' Everybody hears the same snap count in the huddle, so there's really no excuse for one of these things. Holding people accountable, I agree (with Rodgers). Sometimes that's what you have to do versus run from it. Have certain consequences if guys can't get right,” Adams explained.
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly also weighed in on Rodgers' influence and the impact of his hard count. "He nailed it: 'my hard count is a weapon.' The amount of big plays, go ask Jordy Nelson. 'Hey Jordy, do you think the hard count that Aaron Rodgers has is effective?' He would say, 'Yeah, I got paid a lot of money on go balls that Aaron threw me after a defensive lineman jumped offsides,'" Kuechly noted. The relationship between Rodgers' cadence and the team's recent infusion of penalties suggests a deeper introspection is needed, both in execution and discipline.
Narrow Margin, Deep Impact
Additional complications were added late in the game when kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a crucial 50-yard field goal with only 51 seconds remaining. The missed opportunity failed to secure a go-ahead score for the Jets, amplifying frustration over the close scoreline. This marked a significant moment in a game already characterized by its razor-thin margins and self-inflicted wounds.
Falling to a 2-2 record on the season, the Jets are now faced with an urgent need to address these issues. Penalty woes can derail a team's momentum, and for a franchise looking to make strides in one of the most competitive leagues in the world, there is little room for error. Adjustments and accountability will be key as the Jets aim to recalibrate and refocus heading into Week 5.