A costly hesitation: The Jets' baffling clock management hands the Broncos a halftime edge—but was it the right call?
As the first half of Sunday's London showdown between the Jets and Broncos ticked away, New York faced a critical crossroads. With just over a minute left and the ball near midfield, the Jets confronted a fourth-and-1 gamble. What happened next has fans and analysts scratching their heads—and one star player visibly furious.
In a bold move, the Jets dialed up a fake punt, executed flawlessly by running back Breece Hall to move the chains. A timeout was called with 60 seconds remaining, but then... the urgency vanished. A sluggish run by Hall and a crushing sack forced the Jets to burn their final timeout. Meanwhile, Denver could have stopped the clock to regain possession, especially after a completion to Josh Reynolds set up yet another fourth down with 35 seconds left. But the Jets shockingly let the clock expire without running another play, trailing 10-6 at halftime.
Here’s the controversy: Had they preserved that last timeout, the Jets could’ve launched a risk-free Hail Mary attempt. Instead, head coach Aaron Glenn’s conservative approach left points—and maybe momentum—on the field. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson’s heated sideline outburst (captured on camera) says it all—though it’s unclear whether his frustration targeted the clock mismanagement or the offense’s anemic first-half production (just 32 total yards and two first downs).
And this is the part most people miss: While the Jets’ defense finally notched their first takeaway of the season, and Kene Nwangwu’s explosive kickoff return set up two field goals, it wasn’t enough to offset Bo Nix’s pinpoint touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins. Meanwhile, injuries piled up: linebacker Cam Jones (hip) is unlikely to return, and edge rusher Will McDonald exited for a concussion check.
So we ask you: Was Glenn’s call justified? In a league where aggressiveness often wins, did playing it safe cost the Jets dearly—or was avoiding a potential Broncos counterstrike the smarter move? Sound off below. Bonus debate: If you were Garrett Wilson, would you be screaming too?**
