The Jets shocked the world in Week 2. After being down 13 points with less than two minutes to go, the team put up two touchdowns to beat the Browns, 31-30, on Sunday.
But none of that happens without the play of rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson. The first-round pick caught eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score.
Without any timeouts and less than 30 seconds remaining, Joe Flacco and the Jets had two shots at the end zone from the Browns' 15-yard line. Flacco dropped back and slung a pass over the middle where Cleveland played soft, allowing Wilson to get behind his corner, and the veteran hit the rookie in his hands for the touchdown.
“It’s executing the same plays we were hitting them with all game,” Wilson said after the game. “They gave us the middle of the field and you have to take advantage, especially at that point in the game.”
“We’ve known the lights aren’t too big for him,” Flacco said of Wilson. “He’s already kind of grown up and capable of playing in this league, but you won’t have anyone say that about you until you win football games. That’s why winning is so big in this league, it cures everything.”
Earlier in the game, those lights were almost too bright for the Ohio State product in Cleveland.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the Jets down just 24-17 with about eight minutes to go, Wilson dropped a wide-open pass from Flacco on third and four that would have put the team at midfield and driving for a tying score.
After a Jets punt, the defense limited the damage and give New York a chance to come back, even if it was a slim one.
“Defense came up huge getting that stop. If they don’t stop them I’m still beating myself in the locker room over that drop that probably would have ended the game,” Wilson said. “Defense played some really good football today. And that’s all you can ask for, is a chance.”
A chance is what Wilson and the Jets would get. A 66-yard touchdown to Corey Davis followed by an onside kick recovery gave the Jets the recipe for an improbable comeback, and Wilson delivered.
“It’s just part of the process. For [Wilson] to be able to stay focused and to continue to make plays says a lot about who he is and the character that he has,” Flacco said.
“He’s got grit,” head coach Robert Saleh said. “He’s a dynamic football player. We all know that. He’s still trying to find his footing. His sky is the limit. Thought he did a really nice job today. He’s got a couple of things he’s got to clean up. He showed resolve, got that big touchdown at the end. He’s going to be a stud for a long time.”
Wilson, who grew up in Columbus, Ohio, knew the gravity of the moment immediately. With friends and family in the stands, and his team ready to mob him, the 22-year-old made up for his earlier mistake with his second touchdown of the game, which earned the Jets their first win of the season.
“I went crazy. I went absolutely crazy on the sideline. I didn’t want my drop to be the reason we lost the game,” Wilson said of his game-winning touchdown.
Despite the big numbers, Wilson understands that it was a team effort. The Jets defense, special teams, and his fellow receivers helped him get a chance at redemption, and now with a win behind them, the team can build on it moving forward.
“The win’s number one,” Wilson said. “This is a great environment, great team we played against, great defense. As an offense we wanted to make a statement. We didn’t feel like we played well last week. We wanted to make a statement.”
Wilson will have another chance at a statement this coming Sunday when the Jets host another Ohio team, the Cincinnati Bengals.