The New York Jets found themselves grappling with a bitter 10-9 loss at home against the Denver Broncos, a defeat underscored by a cascade of penalties that has left the team questioning its discipline and readiness. Falling back to a 2-2 record for the 2024 season, the Jets' performance was marred by an NFL-high 13 penalties in Week 4, eight of which were committed by the offense.
Among these offensive penalties, false starts proved to be a recurring issue, with five violations allocated. Left guard John Simpson and running back Breece Hall were each flagged for two false starts, while left tackle Tyron Smith accounted for another. This sudden surge in infractions was particularly jarring given that the Jets had only one false start violation over the first three weeks of the season.
Head coach Robert Saleh expressed his frustration and disappointment post-game, highlighting the previously solid cadence and operational efficiency. "We got to figure it out. Whether or not we're good enough to handle or ready enough to handle all the cadence. Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously today took a major step back," said Saleh.
Reflecting on the team's past performance, Saleh’s comments draw a stark contrast between the smooth run from Weeks 1 to 3—where they tied for the 10th-fewest offensive penalties in the league—and the chaotic execution against the Broncos. The sudden lapse in discipline raises questions about consistency and mental preparation.
Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers also weighed in on the issue, advocating for a more stringent approach to accountability. "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 remarked.
However, the week's offensive woes were not confined to penalties. Greg Zuerlein's missed 50-yard field goal with just 51 seconds left underscored the Jets' struggle to capitalize under pressure. The miss extinguished any hope the Jets had of clinching a narrow victory and further magnified the team's overall lack of execution.
Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly and ex-Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams also offered their perspectives, underscoring the importance of attention to detail, especially regarding snap counts. "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,'" said Kuechly, reflecting on the efficacy of Rodgers' cadence in his previous tenure.
Adams emphasized the critical need for focus and accountability: "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."
The Jets will need to address these issues swiftly if they hope to turn their season around and maintain competitiveness in an increasingly tough AFC East. The talent is undeniably present, but synchronizing mental focus and eliminating penalties will be pivotal in redefining their game strategy moving forward.