Garrett Wilson’s incredible touchdown catch helps Jets snap losing skid in 21-13 win over Texans

On Halloween night, the Jets finally ended their nightmare five-game losing streak.
Behind two Garrett Wilson touchdown catches — including an incredible one-handed grab in the back of the end zone early in the fourth quarter — and eight defensive sacks, the Jets (3-6) defeated the Texans (6-3) 21-13 on an unseasonably warm night at MetLife Stadium.
The win was Jeff Ulbrich’s first since he became the Jets interim coach on Oct. 8. It was Gang Green’s first victory since Sept. 19, when it defeated New England on Thursday Night Football.
“It’s special from the standpoint of this team,” Ulbrich said. “I feel like one of my strengths is to block out the outside noise.
“It gets loud and this team took a lot of shots externally. The way they just stayed together and worked and kept a positive attitude and galvanized as a unit, really proud of them.”
Aaron Rodgers started the game slowly but played much better in the second half. He eventually completed 22-of-32 passes for 211 yards and three second-half touchdowns.
Wilson had a tremendous night, with nine catches for 90 yards. But his one-handed catch brought back memories of ex-giant Odell Beckham’s touchdown against the Cowboys in 2014, which will be the talk of the NFL world on Friday morning.
A video replay confirmed Wilson’s shin was down in the end zone. The touchdown gave the Jets life and a 14-10 lead with 12:54 remaining in the fourth quarter. The play had fans going crazy after they had watched a less-than-stellar Jets offense until that second touchdown.
“They played off and it was 3rd and [19] or something and it was just like ‘I hope he gives me a chance,’” Wilson said about the catch. “Once he does, I tried to find a way. That’s all there really is to it. Just trying to make a play. I’m glad they overturned it. Just trying to make a play and score some points.”
Breece Hall finished with 74 rushing yards on 15 carries.
Davante Adams had his best game since he was traded from the Raiders on Oct. 15. He recorded seven catches for 91 yards and a TD catch with just under three minutes to go to seal the desperately needed victory.
“We had trouble getting on the same page just all round in the beginning,” Adams said about the Jets offense in the first half. “Obviously, it was really important coming home and we came out tripping a little bit in the beginning.
“We were able to rally. We just gotta get to the point where we are flowing and not pressing so hard to make plays. It was almost too much urgency or feeling like it is do or die every single time we are out there and obviously maximize our opportunities. You don’t want to feel like you are pressing or people trying to make like herculean effort.
“It started flowing a little bit better and the ball started coming to the playmakers and the guys made plays.”
Just like last season, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had his worst game of the season against the Jets defense. He completed 11-of-30 passes for 191 yards. Joe Mixon finished with 106 rushing yards and a touchdown in a losing effort for the Texans.
“To come out here on a primetime game and get embarrassed like that is never fun,” Stroud said. “I believe we have to be better in a lot of areas and that starts with me. I think there’s plays I got to make, throws I got to make.
“At times I have to sit in the pocket and just trust my guys. I really point the finger at me and realize I got to be better as a football player. If we want to win, this is not the recipe for it.
“We have to learn how to dominate and stop learning how to go with the flow and play in the fourth quarter like we should be able to play good in the first half and then roll into the second. I think we have to have a better mindset as a whole.”
The first half was a comedy of error for the Jets, which has been an ongoing theme dating back to last weekend’s loss to the Patriots. Rodgers struggled with ball placement and accuracy, and it didn’t help the Jets receivers dropped a few passes.
Both teams ended the first quarter scoreless after each offense struggled to put the ball in the end zone. The Jets began the second quarter in the red zone on the 19-yard line. On the quarter’s first play, Malachi Corley ran an end-around for an apparent touchdown. However, the play was reversed after the replay showed Corley dropped the ball at the one-yard line, and the ball rolled into the end zone for a touchback.
“Definitely frustrated, to be honest, and angry at the same time, but what an amazing opportunity for this kid to learn and grow from,” Ulbrich said about Corley’s play. “I promise you, 10 years from now when he is still playing in this league, that will never happen again.”
With 3:21 left in the second quarter, the Texans scored the game’s first touchdown after Mixon found the end zone following a three-yard run. Houston began the drive on its two-yard line and went 98-yard to score the touchdown. The Texans faced only one third down on the entire drive.
After the Jets went three and out on their final possession of the first half, fans began yelling, “Sell the team,” with owner Woody Johnson watching from his suite.
Gang Green trailed Houston 7-0 at halftime after an abysmal performance offensively. The team registered just 69 yards of total offense, and Rodgers completed 7 of 14 for 32 yards.
In addition to Rodgers’ struggling, Adams dropped a critical pass and the Jets defense suffered from missed tackles.
The Jets finally injected life into MetLife Stadium following their opening drive of the second half. Rodgers and the offense marched down the field as he completed four passes on the drive, including Wilson’s spectacular one-handed catch in which he ran 21 yards to the end zone and tied the game 7-7.
Gang Green had more yards on its first drive of the second half (70) than the entire first half.
“I was terrible,” Rodgers said about his performance in the first half. “We had a touchdown taken off the board. Silly play. I feel like the energy was good at halftime. Morgan [Moses] gave a little speech, which was good. We all kind of were positive, talking, nobody was isolating at halftime. We just knew, ‘Hey, let’s just go out and score every possession.’
“We said we were going to score 28-30, I kind of count it as 28 tonight even though the scoreboard says 21. But, proud of the way we responded in the second half. I played about as bad as I could in the first half and knew it had to get better from there.”
The Texans responded following the Jets touchdown after Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 54-yard field goal, which gave the team a 10-7 lead.
With 12:54 remaining, the Jets took the lead for the first time. On a 3rd-and-19 play from the 26-yard-line, Wilson caught another touchdown pass one-handed in the back of the end zone. The pass was initially ruled incomplete, but after the Jets challenged the play on the field, the play was reversed.
Immediately on their next drive, Stroud completed a 50-yard pass to Tank Dell. Fairbairn originally made a 43-yard field goal, but the Jets were called for a personal foul penalty, which gave Houston a new set of downs.
After the Texans couldn’t get the ball in the end zone, Fairbairn attempted a 27-yard field goal, but he doinked it off the left upright.
Gang Green sealed the win on Adams’ 37-yard score.
Fairbairn made a 29-yard field goal with 39 seconds left to cut the Texans’ deficit to eight points. But Adams recovered the onside kick and the Jets kneeled out the clock and won the game.
Jets left guard John Simpson exited the game in the second quarter with a groin injury and did not return. Backup offensive lineman Jake Hanson also left the game before the end of the first half after he suffered a hamstring injury. Cornerback Michael Carter II had a back injury for the second time this season.
The Jets’ next game will be on the road, their third in four weeks. Following a 10-day break, they will play the Cardinals on Nov. 10.