On a night that promised fireworks, the New York Jets were again left feeling flat.
With Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams rekindling their on-field relationship, it was supposed to be the start of a playoff push for the Jets after a difficult couple of weeks that resulted in the dismissal of Robert Saleh as head coach.
But familiar failings again resurfaced with Rodgers underperforming and Adams managing just three catches for 30 yards as the Jets were beaten 37-15 by the Pittsburgh Steelers to slip to 2-5 for the season and 0-2 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.
“We have to come in with the right attitude all week and then go to New England and get a win.” pic.twitter.com/slSK9D6ROp
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 21, 2024
“I have to play better,” said Rodgers. “That’s the key, I have to play better. We have to find a way to run the ball better so we can play-action pass.”
Acquiring Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders was supposed to fire up the Jets but Rodgers admitted the locker room felt flat before the game and during halftime.
“It felt like the energy – and it starts with me – the energy, for whatever reason at halftime, was a little flat,” Rodgers added. “It felt like it was flat before the game too. So I look at myself and what I can do to bring better energy, but we all have to do better.
“I mean, ‘Sunday Night Football’ on NBC, the only show on TV. I live for these games and I just don’t quite understand why the energy was a little bit flat.”
📰 Table Of Contents
Adams confident of bounce back
Adams remains confident the Jets can turn their season around, starting with a Week 8 trip to the 1-6 New England Patriots.
He said: “I’m in a bad mood – we lost the game – but I’m still fired up about what this football team can do. There’s a lot of talent. I mean, the offense that we have, the weapons that we have, when I’m in the huddle today multiple times I’m just looking around [at the talent] and it’s kind of crazy.”
Wilson – I’m playing like s***
Adams’ fellow wide receiver Garrett Wilson also had a night to forget with one fumble returned to the 1-yard line which the Steelers duly converted into a touchdown.
“I got to catch the damn ball,” Wilson said. “I’m playing like s*** right now. Got to fix it. I don’t take that lightly. That was the reason we lost the game at the end of the day. [That] s*** can’t happen. Can’t happen. It’s a terrible play.
“It’s like a culmination of me getting bad habits, not attacking the ball in the game and, all of a sudden, I got to fix it. I’ve got good hands. I’ve got to go use my hands and catch the damn ball.”