Jets vs Texans winners and losers: Garrett Wilson, Malachi Corley

On By Littum

game

Garrett Wilson’s circus-catch touchdown might have saved it New York Jets‘ season.

Wilson’s go-ahead touchdown reception gave the Jets a fourth-quarter lead, and they were able to hold on for a 21-13 win over Houston Texas on “Thursday Night Football.”

The Jets’ win snapped their five-game losing streak. Houston has lost two of its last three games.

Aaron Rodgers finished with 211 passing yards and three touchdowns. Two of Rodgers’ touchdowns were caught by Wilson, who finished with nine catches for 90 yards.

Here are the USA TODAY Sports winners and losers from Thursday night’s tilt:

WINNERS

Garrett Wilson

Wilson made an acrobatic one-handed catch and managed to get the shin down in the back of the end zone. The officials initially called Wilson’s TD catch incomplete, but reversed the call on review.

Wilson’s circus reception gave the Jets a 14-10 lead with 12:54 left in the fourth quarter, and the team played inspired football after the score.

The chemistry between Wilson and Rodgers is improving. Wilson’s had at least five catches and 60-plus receiving yards in the past five games.

Wilson opened the scoring for the Jets on Thursday night with another impressive catch.

Davante Adams also contributed with seven catches, 91 yards and a touchdown.

Jets defense

The Jets’ defense held Texans QB CJ Stroud to a career-low 36% completion percentage and sacked the quarterback eight times. Stroud was under duress for most of the game and finished with a 59.2 passer rating.

Linebacker Jamien Sherwood and defensive end Micheal Clemons each had two sacks. Clemons produced a season-high nine tackles. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams had four tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss.

(Some) fans in the New York area

All Jets fans acting as Yankees fans had a victory to cheer about 24 hours after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Yankees to win the World Series 4-1.

Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said the team was in “a moment of darkness” after last week’s frustrating loss to the New England Patriots. The team found some light Thursday.

LOSER

Malachi Corley

The Jets ran a nice reverse against Corley in the first half, the wide receiver driving down right end with blocks in front for what appeared to be a 19-yard touchdown. However, Corley inexplicably celebrated prematurely; he threw the football behind him just before crossing the plane. The football rolled calmly in the back of the goal zone.

The officials ruled the play a touchback and awarded the football to Houston.

Corley’s potential touchdown would have given the Jets a 7-0 advantage early in the second quarter. Instead, the Jets hit the break trailing 7-0.

Texans wide receivers not named Tank Dell

With Stefon Diggs out for a season-ending ACL injury and Nico Collins currently on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, non-Dell wide receivers had a tough time creating separation.

Dell easily led the Texans with six catches and 126 yards. Robert Woods was the only other wide receiver to record a catch, and he had just two. Dell, Woods and tight end Dalton Schultz were the only Texans players to record catches in the loss.

The good news is that Collins is expected to come off IR soon.

Interior of the Texans’ O-line

Texans guard Kendrick Green and the rest of the interior of Houston’s offensive line had a bad night. Stroud faced constant pressure, especially from within. Green had a hard time blocking New York’s stunts.

Stroud was sacked a career-high eight times in the loss. He was hit a total of 11 times.

Trade candidate?

Mike Williams

Williams, who is involved in ongoing trade discussions, again had a quiet night at the office. The Jets wide receiver had a catch for 6 yards and drew a (questionable) illegal contact penalty on Texans safety Jalen Pitre.

The Jets signed Williams in March after he was released by the Los Angeles Chargers, but he hasn’t been able to build a connection with Rodgers since arriving in New York.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.