The Jets may have found themselves in the second half of their 21-13 win over the Texans Thursday night. They turned the tables in the final 30 minutes, outscoring the AFC South-leading Texans 21-6, and moved to 3-6 with a much-needed victory.
"When you play like that, I think it generates confidence and it generates some energy," interim HC Jeff Ulbrich said. "Both those things are going to be integral going forward. There was definitely some hope going into that second half. And when you put it together, it creates a feel that we can really get this done. It is something that I really believe that will carry us forward here."
In the first half, the Texans outgained the Jets (201 to 69) and went 4 of 9 on third down while the Jets converted just 1 of 6. On the first play of the second quarter, rookie WR Malachi Corley's 18-yard run to the Houston 1 resulted in a touchback when he dropped the ball before crossing the plane. But with the Jets trailing 7-0, Ulbrich said his club's belief never wavered and he liked what he saw from a run game that produced 55 yards on seven first half carries.
"We came in at halftime and the run game was rolling in the first half," Ulbrich said. "We knew we had to continue to establish that. Once we did, it just opened up the passing game. It lightened up the box a little bit and gave Aaron (Rodgers) a chance to operate. He did what Aaron does."
And in the second half, the Green & White came out swinging, scoring TDs on their first 3 offensive possessions while gaining12 first downs and 226 yards of total offense. The defense continued its assault of C.J. Stroud, racking up 4 sacks in each half.
Rodgers, who threw for a first-half career-low 32 yards on 7-of-14 passing, answered with arguably his best half as a Jets with 179 pass yards and 3 touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters. He connected with WR Garrett Wilson for pair of one-handed TD grabs and hooked up with WR Davante Adams for a 37-yard TD strike in the fourth quarter that sealed the game.
"[Last night] was more about flipping pressure into confidence and momentum," Ulbrich said. "Like I spoke about before, I think there's a big difference between the two. There is, in my opinion, productive pressure that you can have in moments like this, and it allow you to work that much hard and be that much more thorough and also sometimes it can be suffering. So, sometimes, a little success like this can translate into positive energy going forward."
The Rodgers-to-Adams TD was the 69th scoring connection of their careers and Adams' first as Jet since being traded to New York in Week 7. Adams finished the game with 7 receptions for 91 yards and had a hand in helping the team find its groove coming out of the locker room.
"He's as good a teammate and human I've ever been around in any capacity," Ulbrich said. "And his influence on this locker room cannot be underestimated. He's touched everybody in that locker room, offense, defense and special teams. He's one of those force multipliers that just brings people along with him. So, fortune to have him."
Following the victory, the Jets will have the weekend off ahead before heading to Arizona for a matchup with Cardinals (4-4) next Sunday. Through the first 9 weeks of the season, the Jets played in primetime 5 times, not including a standalone game in London. Their Week 10 game against Arizona will begin a 7-game stretch with only 1 primetime game on schedule, a matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Colts in Week 11.
"Whenever you can get in a rhythm and a real regimented schedule, I think it can help," Ulbrich said. "But ultimately, and I know it is coach speak, but Arizona is all I'm focusing on now. The world may end after this Cardinals game, so that is all I'm worried about is this game."
