\n
The Cowboys had the ball for more than 42 minutes, ran 83 plays and converted 9 of 18 third-down chances, leaving the Jets\u2019 offense little chance to get going.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefensively, we just couldn\u2019t get off the field,\u201d Jets Coach Robert Saleh said. \u201cYou can\u2019t get anything going if you don\u2019t have the ball that much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodgers\u2019s replacement, Zach Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, picked up where he left off last season. Under pressure all game from Dallas\u2019s fearsome front four, Wilson was sacked three times and threw three fourth-quarter interceptions, as the Jets tried to nip away at a scoring deficit. Wilson finished with 170 yards on 12 of 27 passing, leading the team with 36 yards rushing. He was hounded throughout the night by Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, who had four quarterback hits, including two sacks.<\/p>\n
Wilson\u2019s few bright moments came early and with the assistance of his teammates. Dallas took an early lead on Prescott\u2019s first-quarter touchdown pass to Ferguson, and added 3 points on Brandon Aubrey\u2019s 35-yard field goal. Midway through the second quarter, Wilson opened a drive from the Jets\u2019 32-yard line by finding Garrett Wilson, the 2022 offensive rookie of the year, on a play-action pass. The receiver broke free of a tackle and sprinted 68 yards into the end zone to narrow the score to 10-7.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Dallas followed with a scoring drive of their own, punctuating a 75-yard series with a 1-yard touchdown strike to Schoonmaker.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
With 12 seconds remaining before halftime and the Jets having driven to the Cowboys\u2019 16-yard line, Zach Wilson almost threw a second touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson, who was wide open in the end zone, but the ball was tipped by a Dallas defender and skidded well short of its mark. The Jets settled for a field goal to make the score 18-10.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was so frustrating,\u201d Zach Wilson said. \u201cI was going to rip it to him at the front pylon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the Cowboys returned to the formula that helped them upend the Giants, 40-0, last week in New Jersey. Prescott got rid of the ball quickly and Pollard, who became the team\u2019s top running back last season, kept the Jets from locking in on the pass rush.<\/p>\n
Parsons also stripped running back Dalvin Cook of the ball on the Jets\u2019 second drive of the third quarter, short-circuiting their attempt to close a scoring gap that had ballooned to 21-10.<\/p>\n
Playing from behind and under pressure, Zach Wilson threw interceptions on the Jets\u2019 final three possessions. The first of them, early in the fourth quarter, was picked off by Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse, who returned the ball 32 yards to the Jets\u2019 17-yard line. The Cowboys added a field goal to push their lead to 30-10.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n