When in doubt, run.
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, who has struggled in the passing game, delivered one of the best plays of the year Sunday — and he did it with his legs. He scored on a 52-yard run against the Jacksonville Jaguars, giving the Jets a 6-3 lead at MetLife Stadium. It was the longest touchdown run by a quarterback in Jets’ history.
On a third-and-5, Wilson was blitzed — a six-man rush. The Jaguars’ containment was poor, allowing Wilson to escape to his right. The right side of the field was wide open, so he kept running … and running … and …
He appeared to be going out of bounds at the 33-yard line — safety Rudy Ford thought he was — but Wilson faked Ford and kept going. At the 10, he eluded safety Andrew Wingard, completing his historic run. He reached a top speed of 17.78 mph, according to NFL NextGen Stats.
WOW, JUST WOW @ZachWilson#JAXvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/JAijzdcUgp
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 26, 2021
In a game that pitted the top two picks of last spring’s NFL draft — QBs Trevor Lawrence of the Jaguars and Wilson — it was the Jets’ longest run since running back Isaiah Crowell‘s 77-yarder in 2018. It was the longest run by any quarterback since Marcus Mariota — then with the Tennessee Titans — had an 87-yarder against the Jaguars in 2015.
The Jets kept the fireworks going in the second quarter when Braxton Berrios returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown.
.@HNYNUT_BERRIOS. 101 YARDS. HOUSE CALL.#JAXvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/8YqAJkQgGY
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 26, 2021