Jets' Robert Saleh doesn't want critics, or Patriots, to pick on Zach Wilson
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson reacts after throwing an interception against the Patriots during the third quarter of an NFL game on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Credit: AP/John Minchillo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Robert Saleh wants the attacks on Zach Wilson to stop and the narrative to change.
The Jets coach showed his defensive chops and spoke up for his young quarterback, saying he shouldn’t be judged solely on a handful of plays. Wilson has taken heat for his three-interception game in a loss to New England two Sundays ago. The rematch with the Patriots is this Sunday in Foxborough, Mass.
“There’s a saying that you treat negative and positive the same,” Saleh said. “They’re both impostors and you treat them both the same because there’s teachable moments in everything [that] happens, whether it’s good or bad. You just attack all of it exactly the same.
“But from a narrative standpoint to try to attack a young man for four or five plays when they’re four or five teachable moments in my mind, I just think we’re missing the big picture on it, that’s all.”
Wilson can change the narrative by himself by playing a clean game on Sunday and helping the Jets finally beat the Patriots. If the Jets (6-3) win, they will be in first place in the AFC East.
The Patriots have dominated this rivalry since Bill Belichick left the Jets to be New England’s coach over two decades ago. The Jets have lost 13 consecutive games to Belichick’s team. Their last meeting certainly was a winnable game.
The most memorable aspects of the Jets’ 22-17 loss at MetLife Stadium were Michael Carter II’s pick-6 getting negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty on John Franklin-Myers and Wilson’s three interceptions.
One was an overthrow. The second was meant to go out of bounds, but Wilson’s throw hugged the sideline and was intercepted. The third, he just forced. All three were under pressure.
The game stung and still lingers for many. It is the Jets’ only loss since September. It also raised questions about Wilson and his ability to be the Jets’ franchise quarterback — at least outside the Jets’ locker room. Inside it, the Jets continue to express nothing but belief in Wilson.
The Jets are 5-1 since Wilson returned from a knee injury that kept him out of the first three games of the season. An encouraging sign was how Wilson bounced back from the New England performance in the Jets’ last game before their bye and against one of the top defenses.
Wilson completed 18 of 25 passes for 154 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the Jets’ 20-17 win over Buffalo. The numbers were not splashy or flashy, but Wilson took care of the football and had his best completion percentage (72.0) and highest passer rating (101.1) of his career. He also led a six-minute, 10-second drive that ended with Gregg Zuerlein kicking the game-winning field goal.
Saleh believes there can be some carry-over for Wilson this week.
“It’s confidence,” Saleh said. “Confidence is a great momentum builder. You go against a team like Buffalo and you play the way he did, which was a really good game. He’s had a lot of good moments throughout the season. He played really well against Miami, Pittsburgh, Buffalo. So we feel good about his trajectory and where he’s going.”
Veteran receiver Braxton Berrios is a close friend and confidant of Wilson’s. The two spent time hanging out in the offseason and talk frequently. Berrios said Wilson tunes out any outside noise.
“I don’t think he pays much attention to it, as he shouldn’t,” Berrios said. “He doesn’t flinch.”
This approach is important considering the position Wilson plays. Berrios said Wilson is confident in himself and his focus will always be on the team and not on proving his critics wrong.
“He’s going to be him, he’s going to do him,” Berrios said. “It’s football. Things happen. He has nothing to respond to. Nobody in this locker room is looking at him to respond to anything.
“We’re just looking at him just like we’re looking at everybody in here just to play their game. Go out, have fun, play ball like you know how. He has all the talent in the world. He knows that. We have to help him out as well. We’re not looking at him to respond to anything or to do anything special. Just be him.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
