The Jets stumble late and lose to the Broncos on a missed field goal, despite rough play from Bo Nix

Head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos gave the New York Jets every opportunity to pick up a win on Sunday afternoon.

Somehow, after two failed drives and a missed field goal in rain-soaked MetLife Stadium, the Broncos escaped with a win. The Broncos defeated the Jets 10-9 despite Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers making the perfect game-winning shot in the final moments. Both teams were 2-2 this season.

The Broncos jumped up by one point after a Wil Lutz field goal midway through the fourth quarter. Rodgers and the Jets had many chances after that to take back the lead and win the game, but each time they failed.

First, Rodgers almost fumbled the ball away while trying to get a first down. He appeared to hit his knee awkwardly as he was taken to the bag and moved slowly as the fight continued. That forced a punt and gave Denver the ball back late in the quarter.

After a quick three-and-out, the Jets got the ball back in time. But their next drive lasted just 45 seconds and Rodgers was sacked for a 10-yard loss on fourth down.

Although the Broncos took over at the Jets’ 35-yard line, they only gained 3 yards. So with less than 90 seconds left, Payton opted to attempt a 50-yard field goal rather than corner the Jets with a punt. Of course, this field goal attempt missed.

So Rodgers went out again for one last chance and almost got the Jets. The Jets quickly got into field goal range, but after an incomplete pass on third down, the Jets were forced to attempt a 50-yard attempt from kicker Greg Zuerlein. That was over too.

In the end, the Broncos took the surprising one-point victory. Of course, Rodgers looked incredibly frustrated after Zuerlein’s field goal sailed wide of the right net.

Rodgers went 24 of 42 for 225 yards in the loss. It was the fifth time in Rodgers’ career that his offense failed to score a touchdown in a game. Braelon Allen led New York on the ground with 34 rushing yards, and Mike Williams had 67 yards on four catches. Allen Lazard, who was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for flashing gun symbols with his hands after a catch in the second half, rushed for 58 yards on five receptions.

Although they got the win, the Broncos offense struggled all day. Quarterback Bo Nix finished 12 of 25 for 60 yards. He had -7 yards receiving in the first half and completed just five passes in the final 30 minutes of the contest. Nix threw the game’s only touchdown in the third quarter when he hit Courtland Sutton for an 8-yard score. Sutton had 60 yards on three catches. Javonte Williams added 77 yards on the ground.

The Broncos head home with back-to-back wins. Certainly it seemed like the Broncos were going to try and grab a win on Sunday afternoon, but remarkably the Jets couldn’t capitalize on that advantage.