DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 08: Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos warms up before the game against the New York Jets at Empower Field At Mile High on October 08, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Broncos fall to the Jets 31-21 to move to 1-4. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
Broncos won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
The Jets offense, lead by former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett as OC, started out the game with the ball. DJ Jones got a quick TFL and Nik Bonitto put the Jets offense in a bad spot early on. It was a quick 3-and-out but unfortunately, the Jets got another shot on offense after Marvin Mims fumbled the punt return, setting New York up at the Broncos 20 yard line. Now backed up in their own Red Zone, the Broncos defense were tasked with keeping Zach Wilson and the offense out of the end zone and they were successful. The Jets drive stalled out at the 12 yard line and they were forced to settle for a 30 yard Greg Zeurlein field goal, taking an early 3-0 lead.
The Broncos offense finally got a chance to get on the field and they quickly moved down the field following a Russell Wilson 16-yard scramble on 3rd and 8 and a huge 38 yard run by rookie Jaleel McLaughlin getting Denver into Jets territory. McLaughlin, continuing his impressive play, caught his second screen for a touchdown in the last two games as he was able to scamper into the end zone from 22-yards out, giving the Broncos their first lead of the game 7-3 with 7:34 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Now in an early hole, the Jets offense headed back out onto the field and started to get their talented RB Breece Hall into the game more. He helped the Jets get an early first down but after a Mehki Becton false start, the Jets were unable to convert a 3rd and 6 and were forced to punt, pinnning the Broncos at their own 6 yard line to begin their 2nd drive of the game.
From the 6 yard line, Russell Wilson dropped back to pass but was grabbed by Al Wilson as he was trying to throw the ball and was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a Safety. Broncos lead cut now 7-5.
The Jets offense didn't do much with the shift in momentum, in fact, went backwards after a hold, a Nik Bonitto sack and a Zach Allen sack were forced to punt from their own 9 yard line.
Starting from their own 43, Russell Wilson and the offense went back to work and quickly moved into Jets territory with a screen to Samaje Perine that went for 25 yards. Russell Wilson added a scramble that brought the Broncos all the way down to the Jets 5 yard line but unfortunately the drive stalled and they were forced to settle for a 23 yard field goal, extending the Broncos lead 10-5.
The Jets offense got back to their run game and Breece Hall who helped the New York offense move quickly into Broncos territory with the ground game, eating up huge chunks of yards with each run. In fact, the Jets only attempted two passes on the drive, one ended up being a scramble by Zach Wilson and the 3rd and goal attempt that went incomplete. Jets settled for another field goal, cutting the lead 10-8 with 6:41 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
Russell Wilson and the offense went back to work with a slim lead and, once again, Jaleel McLaughlin put the team on his back with a big 21 yard run to put the Broncos quickly into Jets territory. A combination of the quick passing and running game got the Broncos into a goal to go situation from the 9 yard line. The Jets defense came into the day as the best red zone defense in the league and they continued to show it as the Broncos offense was denied, once again, and had to settle for another Wil Lutz field goal. Broncos lead extended to 13-8.
With 1:48 remaining in the 2nd quarter, Zach Wilson and the Jets offense took over at their own 25 yard line. The Jets moved quickly down the field and seemed poised to at least get 3 points out of the drive before halftime but TE CJ Uzomah caught a pass in bounds and the clock ran out.
Broncos got the ball to start the 2nd half, with a 13-8 lead, but were unable to take advantage of the late first half mistake by the Jets and went 3-and-out. Riley Dixon punted the ball back to the Jets, who started their first drive of the 2nd half at their own 28 yard line.
New York only needed one play as Breece Hall took a handoff from Zach Wilson to the house, a 72 yard touchdown run. Jets now back in front 15-13.
Russell Wilson and the Broncos offense were back on the field to try and respond to the big touchdown run by Breece Hall but after Garrett Bolles hold, the offense wasn't able to gain any traction and quickly punted the ball back to New York who returned it to the Denver 49 yard line.
The Jets went back to the ground game and found more success with Breece Hall but it was the 3rd down passing that really hurt the Broncos defense as twice, on 3rd and medium, Zach Wilson converted passes to Tyler Conklin and Garrett Wilson for 1st downs and moved the ball deep into Denver territory. On 3rd and goal, the defense finally got the stop and Elijah Garcia was able to sack Wilson, ending a promising Jets drive. New York converts another short field goal and extended their lead 18-13, midway through the 3rd quarter.
The Broncos offense, for the third straight drive, went three and out and punted it back to the Jets but caught a huge break when Xavier Gipson lost the ball in the sun and muffed the punt, giving the Broncos some life. Unfortunately, the Broncos gave the ball right back to New York a couple plays later as they tried to run a reverse and Samaje Perine pitched the ball too high for Marvin Mims and New York started their next drive at their own 49 yard line.
Once again, the Jets move quickly into Denver territory but come up short and are forced to settle for another Greg Zuerlein field goal, extending the Jets lead 21-13.
The Broncos AGAIN could get nothing going on offense and had another 3 and out, punting again back to the Jets.
Zach Wilson hit Garrett Wilson on a deep 32 yard pass to get the Jets quickly into Denver territory but New York had their drive stall again as they knocked in a 49-yard field goal to give the Jets a 2-score advantage.
The Broncos offense FINALLY woke up and Russell Wilson executed a 7-play 75 yard touchdown drive ending in a 3 yard touchdown pass to Adam Trautman with Michael Burton converted the 2 point conversion to give the Broncos life, trailing 24-21.
Zach Wilson and the Jets offense had a chance to ice the game and, after converting a huge 3rd down conversion to Tyler Conklin that got New York into Denver territory but, with the game on the line, Pat Surtain came up with a huge interception to give the Broncos one last chance.
On 2nd and 10 from their own 41 yard line as Russell Wilson scrambled to find a receiver down field, Quincy Williams forced a fumble that Bryce Hall took to the house, giving the Jets a 31-21 lead, and effectively ending the game.
The next broadcast will be on Thursday night as the Broncos are on the road to face the Chiefs. Coverage starts at 12pm with kickoff at 6:15pm.
Below are postgame interviews with Voice of the Broncos Dave Logan and Sean Payton/Russell Wilson and Susie Wargin with Zach Allen.