New York Jets Fall to Green Bay Packers After Fourth-Quarter Collapse

On Sunday, the New York Jets seemed set to secure a 2-0 start for the first time since 2015. Throughout the game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium, the Jets maintained control. However, critical errors during the latter stages resulted in them losing their 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.

The Packers seized the opportunity by scoring 13 unanswered points, securing a 20-17 victory in overtime. Trey Smack completed their comeback with a 26-yard field goal. Green Bay first found the end zone with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love to MarShawn Lloyd in the second quarter. The Jets responded with Braelon Allen’s 5-yard touchdown run. A 5-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith to Garrett Wilson in the third quarter gave New York a 14-7 lead.

The Jets seemed to extend their advantage early in the fourth quarter by recovering a Lloyd fumble at Green Bay’s 18-yard line. Despite this opportunity, they only managed a 32-yard field goal by Jason Sanders, making it 17-7 with 11:04 left on the clock. Then, things began to unravel.

Green Bay advanced due to a 38-yard pass-interference penalty against the Jets. Love completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson. The Jets failed to secure a first down on their next possession, and a 63-yard punt return by Skyy Moore set up a 34-yard field goal by Smack to level the score.

With 1:20 remaining in regulation, the Jets had a chance to win. Breece Hall was stopped after a 1-yard gain on third-and-2, and the Jets faced fourth-and-1 at midfield. In an aggressive move, coach Aaron Glenn decided to go for it, but Allen was stopped. Green Bay couldn’t capitalize, leading to overtime.

In overtime, the Jets’ opening possession was disastrous. They endured consecutive sacks on Smith, incurred a false-start penalty, and faced a third-and-30 from their own 10-yard line, leading them to punt. Green Bay then moved 58 yards on four plays and won the game with Smack’s field goal, aided by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Jarvis Brownlee Jr.

The game featured numerous penalties. Green Bay was penalized 14 times for 133 yards, while New York faced 13 penalties for 156 yards. Critical penalties by the Jets, such as the 38-yard pass-interference and Brownlee’s 15-yard penalty, proved costly in crucial moments.

Despite the loss, Smith completed 27-of-41 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown. New York outgained Green Bay 285-199, held them to 1-of-9 on third downs, won the turnover battle, and maintained possession nearly 11 minutes longer. Love passed for 145 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The defeat was harsh for Jets fans. They anticipated celebrating a victory, but instead, they pondered how their team allowed another fourth-quarter lead to slip away. Dan Zaksheske reports for OutKick.