It was a brutal afternoon for Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, and CBS announcers Ian Eagle and Charles Davis let him hear it.
The overmatched second-year passer completed 20-of-41 passes for 355 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, though even those numbers are deceiving. The Jets were hapless, especially after a pick-six from Michael Carter II was called back due to a roughing the passer penalty.
At times, it seemed as if Mac Jones and Wilson were both trying to give the game away. In the end, Wilson succeeded.
His two worst throws came in the second half, and both were intercepted by Devin McCourty. On the first one, Wilson rolled out to his right, and panicked when Matthew Judon got in his face. Wilson carelessly flung the ball down the field, right into McCourty’s outstretched arms.
Davis eviscerated Wilson for his awful decision.
“It’s supposed to be a big chunk play down field. But Devin McCourty came over and took that away. But it doesn’t mean you make this throw,” said Davis. “You absolutely do not make that throw. If you do, that throw has got to be in the fifth row, so no one else touches it. You can’t throw it and put it in harm’s way.”
Fortunately for the Jets, the Patriots went 3-and-out on their next drive, giving Wilson the chance for a mulligan.
His encore performance was another brutal throw right to McCourty.
“There’s been a sense of panic at the quarterback position today for New York,” said Eagle, who calls Jets preseason games.
It was also an underwhelming day for Eagle and Davis, who are usually sharper than they were Sunday. Davis blathered for most of the contest and said little of substance, including that the AFC East still goes through New England.
Eagle, for his part, basically declared the game over midway through the fourth quarter, when the Jets were only down 12.
Then again, given the way Wilson was playing, the Jets didn’t have a chance.