DENVER — The Jets won’t get any style points for this one, but they don’t care.
Gang Green pulled off an ugly 16-9 win over the Broncos at Empower Field on Sunday for their fourth straight victory, a feat they had not accomplished since 2015.
It was a game dominated by two of the best defenses in the NFL and points were at a premium. The Jets’ offense was not pretty to watch but it had one huge play for a touchdown and did not turn the ball over in a win that several players described as “grimy.”
“There’s no quit. We don’t flinch,” coach Robert Saleh said. “They know that whenever it gets rough, there’s 60 percent more. They have completely bought in and believe what they are capable of. I just have so much faith in our group, especially as the game gets deeper and deeper, I just feel like we get stronger and stronger.”
Breece Hall rushes for a 62-yard touchdown. APThe Jets are now 5-2, their best start since 2010, the last time they went to the playoffs. They are also 4-0 on the road. Now, they head home for two games against division rivals, the Patriots and Bills. The Broncos fell to 2-5.
It was not all good news for the Jets. Rookie running back Breece Hall, who has been their best offensive player, may have been lost for the season to a torn ACL. Hall exited the game in the second quarter and Saleh said afterward the initial prognosis is a torn ACL. Hall will undergo further testing on Monday.
“He’s a heck of a football player, and when you lose great football players, it’s not good,” Saleh said.
Zach Wilson passes during the second quarter. USA TODAY SportsThe Jets overcame the loss of Hall as well as injuries to tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker (elbow) and wide receiver Corey Davis (knee). This game came just a few days after dealing with the trade demand of wide receiver Elijah Moore, who was left home for this one.
The Jets showed their character in overcoming the adversity and the stingy Broncos defense.
“Good teams find a way to win,” defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said. “Each and every game is different. Some games require offenses to score points, some games require defenses to come up with stops. As a team, we’re just showing that no matter who’s out there, no matter the circumstance, situation, that we’re well equipped to be able to win any game.”
Greg Zuerlein drills one of his three field goals. USA TODAY SportsThe Jets took a 10-9 lead just before halftime and then hung on in the second half to pull off the win. Zach Wilson was not great but he did not turn the ball over and made some plays with his legs. He finished the game 16 of 26 for 121 yards and four rushes for 24 yards.
The Broncos were playing with backup quarterback Brett Rypien, who subbed for an injured Russell Wilson. Rypien struggled for most of the game and threw an interception with 1:33 left in the third quarter to Jets safety Lamarcus Joyner. The takeaway led to a 33-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein that gave the Jets a 13-9 lead with 12:49 to play.
The Jets’ defense was great all day. Cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed were fantastic in coverage and their linebackers made some huge tackles. The defense got three stops in the fourth quarter — forcing the Broncos to punt once and then turning them over on downs twice to seal the game.
“We knew that going into the game that they were one of the highest-ranked defenses and we took that as a challenge — our defense versus their defense to see who was going to be the best,” defensive end John Franklin-Myers said.
Bryce Huff reacts after recording a sack. APZuerlein booted a 40-yard field goal with 4:35 left in the game to put the Jets up 16-9.
The Broncos then got the ball back and drove to the Jets 25 where they faced a fourth-and-3 with two minutes left. The Broncos went for the touchdown, with Rypien throwing into the end zone toward Courtland Sutton, but Gardner broke the pass up to stop the Broncos.
Denver got one more possession, taking over at its own 20 with 1:30 left after a Jets punt. Rypien completed two quick passes to move the Broncos to the Jets’ 48, but then the defense stiffened.
The win continues a remarkable run for the Jets, who have not made the playoffs in 12 years. There is still a lot of season left, but the last three seasons have all felt over before Halloween.
“To be sitting here with five wins is awesome but I’ve seen a lot of teams start 5-2 and not finish good either,” Saleh said. “We’ve got to keep our heads down and keep ourselves focused.”
The loss of Hall is going to be a tough blow to the offense, which has struggled to throw the ball. The Jets had 105 passing yards on Sunday and 260 total. Hall gave the Jets a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when he broke loose for a 62-yard touchdown. Hall hit 21.87 miles per hour on the run, according to Next Gen Stats. That is the fastest play by a ball carrier this season in the NFL.
There were not many other offensive highlights for either team, but the Jets are heading home with another road victory.
“This game was crazy,” defensive end Vinny Curry said. “It shows a lot of character, a lot of grit, which this team is about. We’ve just got to keep it going, bro.”







