The Jets looked like their usual incompetent selves early in their season opener against the Panthers.
New York’s offense sputtered out of the gate, failing to get anything going until late in the third quarter due in large part to offensive line struggles. Zach Wilson and Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich’s defense flipped the switch over the final 16 and a half minutes of play, though, giving the Jets a chance to start the 2021 season with a win.
The Panthers did enough to keep New York at bay in the end, as their 16-0 first-half performance helped them hold off the upset-minded Jets by a final score of 19-14. Carolina used Christian McCaffrey early and often to move the ball with ease, as its star totaled nearly 200 yards of offense. Sam Darnold also did his part, with his second-quarter performance being enough to send his former team home unhappy.
Even with the late comeback attempt, there is still plenty that needs to be cleaned up ahead of Week 2 — especially offensively. Here are six takeaways from the Jets’ season opener.
