EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Zach Charbonnet ran for a go-ahead 8-yard landing with 5:31 remaining, Leonard Williams returned an interception 92 yards for a momentum-turning rating and the Seattle Seahawks held on to beat the New York Jets 26-21 on a cold, windy Sunday for his or her third straight victory.
Geno Smith threw a landing cross to AJ Barner for the Seahawks (7-5), who had been sloppy early however took over sole possession of first place within the NFC West with Arizona shedding to Minnesota.
Aaron Rodgers and the Jets (3-9) led a lot of the manner and appeared energized early of their first sport popping out of their bye-week break. However they had been held scoreless within the second half.
Charbonnet’s rating got here on a drive helped by 4 penalties on the Jets, who completed with 12 of them.
On fourth-and-6, New York took a penalty for too many males on the sector when returner Xavier Gipson ran on the sector anticipating a punt. However with punter Michael Dickson coping with a tweaked again, the Seahawks stored their offense on the sector. On the subsequent play, Qwan’tez Stiggers — filling in for some injured cornerbacks — was referred to as for cross interference.
On fourth-and-1 later within the drive, it appeared the Jets stopped Charbonnet, however Solomon Thomas was referred to as for a horse-collar sort out. Will McDonald lined up within the impartial zone on third down, and Charbonnet ran it in on the subsequent play to place Seattle up 26-21.
Rodgers and the Jets had an opportunity to go for a comeback win, however Williams — a first-round choose of the Jets in 2015 — had a sack on third down. Rodgers’ desperation heave from the Seahawks 34 fell manner far previous Garrett Wilson to seal the loss.
All that got here after a wacky first half that featured a 99-yard kickoff return for a landing by New York’s Kene Nwangwu, Williams’ interception return and three fumbled kickoffs by the Seahawks, with two recovered by the Jets.
Smith, the thirty ninth total choose by New York in 2013, completed 20 of 31 for 206 yards and the rating in his first sport as a starter in opposition to the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Rodgers was 21 of 39 for 185 yards and landing passes to Davante Adams and Isaiah Davis, but additionally had the pick-6. New York, which fired normal supervisor Joe Douglas final week, has dropped three in a row, eight of its previous 9 and fell to 1-6 below interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.
The Jets took a 6-0 lead late within the first quarter when Rodgers lobbed a cross to Adams for an 8-yard landing. Anders Carlson’s further level was blocked by Williams, who had a pricey penalty to maintain the drive alive.
On third-and-8, Williams sacked Rodgers, however grabbed the quarterback’s facemask and was flagged. Two performs later, Malachi Corley obtained 7 yards on an end-around — helped by a block by Rodgers on Josh Jobe — to arrange Adams’ rating.
New York obtained the ball proper again on the kickoff when Dee Williams had the ball knocked out of his palms by Nwangwu, promoted from the observe squad for the sport, and Brandin Echols recovered.
Davis scored his first NFL landing on a 4-yard run 4 performs later, and Breece Corridor ran within the 2-point conversion to place the Jets up 14-0.
Barner’s 12-yard TD catch from Smith reduce Seattle’s deficit to 14-7 early within the second quarter.
Nwangwu adopted with one other large play on particular groups, taking a kickoff 99 yards for a landing — the fourth kickoff return for a rating of his profession — to place the Jets up 21-7.
Laviska Shenault then fumbled the kickoff and Carlson recovered — the third mishandled kick of the sport for the Seahawks and second recovered by the Jets.
The Jets had been driving deep in Seahawks territory when Rodgers’ throw for Wilson was intercepted by Williams, and the 300-pound defensive finish nicknamed “Big Cat” scampered down the left sideline for a 92-yard landing.
It was the longest interception return for a rating by a defensive lineman since at the very least 2000, based on ESPN Analysis. It was additionally Williams’ first landing and second profession interception — and first since 2017 whereas with the Jets.
However Jason Myers’ further level strive was blocked by Quinnen Williams and Seattle trailed 21-13.
Myers’ 54-yarder simply made it over the crossbar to make it 21-16 with 4:15 left within the first half.
Accidents
Seahawks: Dickson injured his again within the second half.
Jets: RT Morgan Moses left within the opening quarter with a shoulder harm. … Echols left with dehydration within the fourth quarter. … CB Sauce Gardner injured a hamstring.
Up subsequent
Seahawks: Tackle the NFC West-rival Cardinals in Arizona subsequent Sunday.
Jets: Journey to Miami to face the AFC East-rival Dolphins subsequent Sunday.