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Jets vs Texans: Garrett Wilson makes potential catch of the year as New York beats Houston to snap five-game skid



CNN

Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson turned in a Catch of the Year candidate on Thursday night as New York defeated the Houston Texans 21-13 to end their five-game losing streak.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Wilson reached back into the end zone with one arm and contorted his body to snatch the ball out of the air as Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter just watched.

Perhaps even more remarkable, the second-year receiver managed to get his left shin and right foot down into the end zone while maintaining possession of the ball. Although an incomplete pass was initially called, a challenge from Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich led to a review and the officials overturned the decision to rule it a successful catch and touchdown.

The play bore a striking similarity to another all-time great catch at MetLife Stadium. The one-handed, diving nature of Wilson’s effort was compared to Odell Beckham Jr.’s grip. for the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys in 2014.

Afterwards, Wilson said the two moments of brilliance had their differences.

“(Beckham) came down three feet, the ball was going to land out of bounds, and it was Odell, man,” Wilson told reporters. “Odell against the Cowboys, that was it. So for it to even come up in that conversation, I’m blessed. I am honored.”

Ulbrich said Wilson and Beckham’s catches were two of the same.

“Oh my God,” Ulbrich said. “I mean, I was talking to the referee when they reviewed it, I thought, ‘Just for posterity’s sake, you have to say this is so, so that it goes down in history.’ I mean, it would match Odell’s catch. It was amazing.”

Wilson explained what was going on in his head as the ball flew through the air during the extraordinary catch.

“Honestly, you don’t think much about, ‘How can I play?’” Wilson told Prime Video’s Kaylee Hartung after the game. “Give myself the opportunity to make a play. (Jets QB) Aaron (Rodgers) believed in me. Once the ball went up, it’s like you have no choice but to go and try to do what you can do. I’m glad they transferred the call, I wasn’t sure if they did. It was a cool play. We needed it. Ultimately, I pride myself on coming through when I need to.”

Wilson's remarkable catch was the highlight of the Jets' win on Thursday.

It was the second one-handed grab Wilson made during Thursday’s game, after already catching a Rodgers pass with one hand midway through the third quarter on his way to a 21-yard touchdown.

Wilson’s explosion in the second half was a big factor in ending their five-game losing streak after a slow start for both teams at MetLife Stadium.

The game’s first points came with 3:21 remaining in the first half thanks to a three-yard touchdown run by Texans running back Joe Mixon after both defenses smothered their rival offenses to force punts.

The Jets thought they had taken the lead on the first play of the second quarter when Malachi Corley ran 19 yards into the end zone, but after a review by the officials it was ruled that the rookie had dropped the ball before then running with it. crossed the goal line. rolling out of bounds, resulting in a turnover and giving Houston the ball.

Jets QB Rodgers had historically low numbers during that first half, going 7-for-14 on his passes for 32 yards, which was the fewest passing yards Rodgers has ever had in a first half and tied for fewest passing yards in any half (minimum 10 passes), according to the NFL.

But Wilson’s first touchdown of the game on the first drive of the third quarter tied the game and his extraordinary one-handed grab early in the fourth quarter gave the Jets the lead.

New York’s lead was further extended toward the end of the game when Davante Adams got his first touchdown for the Jets after hauling in a 37-yard throw from Rodgers.

Although they got a late field goal, the Texans were unable to mount a comeback as they fell to 6-3 and the Jets improved to 3-6.

“It feels good,” Wilson told reporters. “We definitely just wanted to get back in the win column. Losing five times in a row feels like what you would expect. It doesn’t feel good. The most important thing is that we are better than that, and it was time to prove it.”