Robert Saleh praises Zach Wilson saying 'If he plays like that, we're gonna win a lot of football games'
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| Photo: Zach Wilson in action. Credit: Pro Football Network |
This was supposed to be Aaron Rodgers dueling with Patrick Mahomes. Instead, it was a given Mahomes and Travis Kelce would lead a one-sided win in front of Taylor Swift. Zach Wilson changed the Sunday night script, though. Wilson turned in perhaps the most impressive performance of his young career. Unfortunately, his New York Jets still fell to the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, 23-20, and a Wilson fumble in the fourth quarter loomed large in the loss.
"I thought he was really good," Jets head coach Robert Saleh said. "Gave us a chance to win the game, brought us back. If he plays like that, we're gonna win a lot of football games."
Wilson completed 28 of 39 throws for 245 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 105.2 rating for the night. This represents a completion percentage of 71.8%. But it went beyond the reliable box score. He displayed assurance, composure, sound judgment, a powerful arm, and occasionally tight-window accuracy.
But there was the slip-up. Wilson missed a shotgun snap with 7:24 left in the game. The Chiefs bounced back. Wilson never got a chance to atone for his mistakes, as Mahomes and company ran out the time with the help of a contentious defensive holding penalty against Sauce Gardner.
Wilson cited that play as the reason the night was lost, despite the fact that his entire performance had been praised.
"To be driving right there, to drop a snap, I cannot do that," said Wilson, who was visibly downtrodden in his postgame news conference. "I lost us that game, and I cannot do that. Was making it clear to those guys that I need to be better, I need to be better on the little things, the details. Can't happen."
It's debatable whether Wilson caused the Jets to lose their third straight game. It's not important that he kept them in the game, helped them overcome an early deficit, and gave them a shot at victory. However, the 24-year-old took responsibility. At his hip, the snap was low to the left. Not fantastic, but he ought to have had it.
"That's on me," Wilson said. "Critical situation, I can't have a play like that. I cannot drop the ball."
Saleh had a different take, NFL wrote.
"I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet, but I'm sure he's beating himself up over a play or two here or there, but he shouldn't," Saleh said. "There's nothing that he should be ashamed of."
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