Garrett Wilson made two superb touchdown catches and the New York Jets halted a five-game losing streak with a 21-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Thursday night in East Rutherford, N.J.
Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 32 passes for 211 yards and three second-half scoring passes as New York (3-6) won for the first time since beating the New England Patriots on Sept. 19. Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich earned his first win since taking over after the club fired Robert Saleh earlier this month.
Wilson caught nine passes for 90 yards, Davante Adams had seven catches for 91 yards and a touchdown and Breece Hall had 74 yards on 15 rushes.
C.J. Stroud was just 11-of-30 passing for 191 yards and was sacked eight times for the Texans (6-3), who lost for the second time in three games. Joe Mixon rushed for 106 yards on 24 carries for his fourth straight 100-yard outing and Tank Dell had six receptions for 126 yards.
Wilson’s second one-handed grab of the night gave the Jets a 14-10 advantage with 13:01 left in the game.
New York was facing third-and-19 from the Texans’ 26-yard line when Rodgers heaved it toward Wilson at the back of the end zone. He jumped and reached to grab the ball with his right hand but it was ruled that he didn’t get both feet down.
The Jets challenged and replays showed Wilson got his left foot down and the call was reserved.
Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 43-yard field goal with 8:23 left but the Texans accepted a New York penalty. When the drive again stalled, Fairbairn’s 27-yard attempt clanked off the left upright with 6:57 to play.
The Jets responded. Rodgers threw a 37-yard score to Adams to make it 21-10 with 2:56 remaining. Adams briefly left the game late in the third quarter to be evaluated for a concussion before returning during this drive.
Fairbairn kicked a 29-yarder with 39 seconds left and the Jets recovered the ensuing onside kick.
After being shut out in the first half, New York scored with 9:03 left in the third quarter when Wilson made a one-handed grab inside the 15 and turned it into a 21-yard touchdown that tied the score at 7.
Fairbairn kicked a 54-yard field goal nearly five minutes later to give Houston a 10-7 lead.
Mixon scored on a 3-yard run with 3:21 remaining in the first half for the only points before halftime.
New York’s Malachi Corley made a huge gaffe on the opening play of the second quarter.
The Jets were on the Houston 19 when they ran a reverse to Corley and the rookie took it to the right and was headed toward the end zone. But he dropped the ball inside the 1-yard line and it rolled through the back of the end zone for a touchback.
