Jets defeated Texans to snap a five-game losing streak

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Garrett Wilson made one dazzling one-handed 26-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter, the Jets snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating the Texans 21-13 on Thursday night.

Aaron Rodgers had three touchdown passes, including another early one-handed score from Wilson and a 37-yard throw to recently acquired Davante Adams, and the Jets (3-6) won for the first time in four games under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich .

With the Jets trailing 10-7 and facing third-and-19 of the Texans’ 26, Rodgers threw the ball to Wilson in the end zone. The star wide receiver jumped and extended his right hand with both legs spread in the air – resembling the Michael Jordan “Jumpman” logo.

The play was initially called an incomplete pass, but a video replay review confirmed Wilson’s shin was in the end zone and a touchdown was called to give the Jets a 14–10 lead with 12:54 remaining.

It sent the MetLife Stadium crowd into a frenzy after fans had little reason to cheer until that point.

Wilson’s catch was reminiscent of Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-handed grab. of the Giants against Dallas in 2014.

It also helped offset a Jets touchdown that didn’t happen when rookie Malachi Corley made a mental error that wiped out his first NFL score.

With the Jets at the Texans’ 19 early in the second quarter, Corley took the toss from Rodgers and raced down the right sideline. Corley raced into the end zone, but just before he crossed the goal line, he dropped the ball from his right hand in celebration.

A video review showed he had not reached the end zone before dropping it. So Corley was credited with an 18-yard run and a fumble. And because it rolled out the side of the end zone, it was a touchback and a turnover.

Rodgers finished 22 of 32 for 211 yards. His 37-yard touchdown pass to Adams, who was previously cleared after being checked for possible head injuries, put the Jets up 21-10 with 2:56 left. It was Adams’ first touchdown catch since being acquired from Las Vegas earlier this month.

Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 29-yard field goal with 39 seconds left to make it an eight-point game, but Adams recovered the onside kick and the Jets were able to take a knee and seal the victory.

C.J. Stroud was 11 of 30 for 191 yards for the Texans (6-3), who were playing with injured receivers Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins. It was the first of three consecutive primetime games for Houston, with a Sunday night home game on November 10 and a Monday night meeting in Dallas on November 18.

Fairbairn missed two field goals for Houston. With the Texans trailing 14-10, Fairbairn made it a one-point game when he kicked a 43-yarder – but Eric Watts was called for unnecessary roughness on the attempt, so Houston opted to take the penalty and keep the ball keep.

The Jets took a defensive stance and the Texans were forced to attempt a 27-yard attempt, but Fairbairn cleared his kick off the left upright to keep the score at 14-10.

Joe Mixon’s 3-yard touchdown run capped a 98-yard drive for the Texans, who took a 7-0 lead with 3:21 left in the second quarter.

One play after Stroud was hit on a sack by Solomon Thomas, Fairbairn’s 56-yard attempt went wide.

The Jets tied it on their opening possession of the second half when Rodgers completed a 21-yard pass to Wilson, who grabbed the ball with one hand and ran into the end zone for the tying touchdown.

Riley Patterson, who signed to the active roster hours before the game to replace the injured Greg Zuerlein, hit the left upright on the extra point, but the ball went in and went over the crossbar.

Fairbairn made up for his earlier miss by kicking a 54-yarder that put the Texans ahead again, 10-7 with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

Rodgers was 7 of 14 in the first half for just 32 yards – his fewest in the first two quarters with 10 or more attempts in his career. His previous low was 37 on 12 attempts against Denver on Nov. 1, 2015, while with Green Bay.