Jets collapse late against Packers, miss chance at first 2-0 start since 2015 in overtime loss
Green Bay’s overtime rally over New York in a 20‑17 game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night highlighted how penalties and late‑game mistakes can undo a dominant performance. The Packers, 0‑1 on the season, forced the Jets, 1‑0, into overtime after a 10‑point fourth‑quarter lead had evaporated on the final drive.
The first half was a back‑and‑forth affair. Green Bay struck first when quarterback Jordan Love connected on a six‑yard touchdown pass to MarShawn Lloyd in the second quarter, giving the Packers a 7‑0 lead. The Jets answered with a 5‑yard touchdown run by Braelon Allen, cutting the deficit to 7‑5. New York took the lead in the third quarter when Geno Smith found rookie Garrett Wilson on a five‑yard pass, and the score was 14‑7 heading into the final period.
New York seemed poised to secure the win early in the fourth quarter. A fumble recovery by the Jets on Lloyd’s ball at the Green Bay 18‑yard line appeared to set up a short field, but the offense stalled and settled for a 32‑yard field goal by Jason Sanders that made the score 17‑7 with 11 minutes remaining.
A 38‑yard pass‑interference penalty on the Jets in the ensuing possession allowed the Packers to march down the field. Love found Christian Watson for a three‑yard touchdown, cutting the margin to 17‑13. After a missed first‑down conversion, New York’s special‑teams play faltered when Skyy Moore returned the Jets’ punt 63 yards to the 19‑yard line, setting up a 34‑yard field goal by Trey Smack that tied the game at 17.
The Jets still had a chance to win in regulation. On a critical fourth‑and‑1 at midfield with 1:20 left, head coach Aaron Glenn elected to run the ball rather than punt. Braelon Allen was stuffed on a short play, and the Packers ran out the clock, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period, the Jets received the ball first, but their offense collapsed. New York was sacked on two consecutive plays by the Packers, and a false‑start penalty moved the Jets back to their own 10‑yard line. Facing third‑and‑30, the Jets ultimately punted. Green Bay then moved 58 yards on four offensive plays, aided by a 15‑yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Jets’ linebacker Jarvis Brownlee Jr. Trey Smack capped the drive with a 26‑yard field goal, giving the Packers a 20‑17 win.
Statistically, the Jets had a better overall performance: they outgained Green Bay 285 to 199 yards, held the Packers to only one third‑down conversion out of nine attempts, won the turnover battle, and possessed the ball almost eleven minutes longer. Geno Smith completed 27 of 41 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown, while avoiding interceptions. Jordan Love threw for 145 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers.
However, penalties proved disastrous. The Packers were flagged 14 times for 133 yards, and the Jets committed 13 penalties for 156 yards. The most costly calls were the 38‑yard pass‑interference that helped the fourth‑quarter touchdown drive and Brownlee’s 15‑yard penalty that moved the Packers into field‑goal range in overtime.
With the loss, the Jets fall to 1‑1, their first 2‑0 record since 2015 still out of reach. Green Bay’s win is their first of the season, and the victory in overtime demonstrates the Packers’ resilience and the Jets’ vulnerability to late‑game mistakes. The game will likely fuel discussions among Jets fans about discipline, play‑calling decisions, and the importance of staying focused when the lead is on the line.