Zach Wilson returns, leads Jets to comeback win over Steelers
Zach Wilson #2 of the Jets celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Credit: Getty Images/Justin K. Aller
PITTSBURGH — Zach Wilson’s 2022 season debut brought some excitement and creative play-calling — and a last-second Jets victory.
Wilson, who missed the first three games with a knee injury, wasn’t sharp, but he made big plays when he needed to and led the Jets to two touchdowns in the final 7:31 of the game.
Before the Jets’ game-winning drive, Wilson used some colorful language that got his teammates fired up. The offense came through, with rookie Breece Hall scoring on a 2-yard run with 16 seconds left to lift the Jets over the Steelers, 24-20, on Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium.
“Let’s go score a [expletive] touchdown,” Hall said Wilson said in the huddle. “That was our whole mentality.”
Corey Davis corroborated that and said there might have been a “mother” in front of it.
“Yeah, straight up. He said the whole thing,” Davis said. “But that’s what you want from a guy like that. That kind of turned us up in the huddle and kind of got us going. We punched it in and we got the dub.”
It was a crazy, back-and-forth game in which the Jets took a 10-0 lead but fell behind 20-10 early in the fourth quarter after a quarterback change from Mitch Trubisky to rookie Kenny Pickett sparked Pittsburgh.
The Jets (2-2) responded in the fourth quarter with 14 unanswered points to win it. The defense rebounded from last week’s rough performance with four interceptions. The third one, by Michael Carter II, led to the winning drive. In both Jets wins, they trailed by at least 10 points in the fourth quarter.
“To weather the storm and show the resilience to come back again on the road, awesome,” Robert Saleh said.
Wilson, who suffered a bone bruise and torn meniscus in a preseason game, moved well and avoided sacks throughout the game with his mobility. He said he never thought about his knee once. He just played.
The second-year quarterback completed 18 of 36 passes for 252 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also caught a TD pass as offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur threw a nifty trick play at the Steelers that caught them flat-footed.
“This was probably the most comfortable I’ve ever felt from a pregame standpoint coming into the game,” Wilson said.
He was terrific in the fourth quarter, going 10-for-12 for 128 yards with a touchdown pass to Davis. He also scrambled for a 6-yard gain.
Wilson said that when he got the ball back with a chance to win, he knew the Jets would. “One-hundred percent,” he said. “From the beginning, I think there was no doubt in my mind.”
Davis caught five passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Hall rushed for 66 yards.
The Jets appeared to be headed for a familiar ending after Pickett led the Steelers on back-to-back touchdown drives. The rookie from Pitt scored on a 1-yard run and then a 2-yard rush to give the Steelers a 20-10 lead with 13:36 left in the game.
Wilson and the Jets answered with an impressive drive. He completed a 35-yard pass to Garrett Wilson on third down and a 22-yard pass to Davis on fourth-and-6. The drive ended with Wilson throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Davis with 7:31 left to make it 20-17.
The Steelers were driving again when the defense came up with a big takeaway. Carter intercepted Pickett’s pass with 3:34 to go after it deflected off Pat Freiermuth’s fingertips at the Jets’ 35.
On first down, Wilson hit Davis for 15 yards. Later, on third-and-6, he found Tyler Conklin for an 8-yard gain. After a penalty made it first-and-20 from the Pittsburgh 48, Wilson connected with Michael Carter for 11 yards and Davis for 17 yards.
“I think that was the first time as an offense we didn’t feel stagnant,” Wilson said. “We didn’t feel timid. Everybody was playing fast. We were right on cue with what the calls were. It’s so much fun playing in those situations.”
The Jets were being methodical. They were playing for the win while letting the clock run down because they didn’t want to give the ball back to Pittsburgh.
After a Steelers penalty, it was first-and-goal from the 9, and Hall ran it for 7 yards. On second down, Hall took the handoff and broke the plane of the goal line before the ball was knocked away. It originally was ruled a 1-yard gain, with the fumble being recovered by Conklin. But when the officials reviewed it, they ruled that Hall scored.
“A linebacker came through and, I kind of made him miss,” Hall said. “He had my leg. I reached the ball across and I felt like I scored.”
The Steelers needed to go 75 yards in 16 seconds with one timeout. Pickett completed a 27-yard pass to George Pickens, but the game ended when Pickett’s Hail Mary was picked off by Lamarcus Joyner.
“I’m really proud of the group for the mindset, just exchanging blows with another opponent,” Saleh said. “Being 2-2 right now, it’s pretty good.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
