NFL Week 9 picks and predictions
Lorenzo Reyes is back with his best bets for NFL Week 9 games.
Lorenzo’s Locks
Garrett Wilson’s circus-catch touchdown might’ve saved the New York Jets‘ season.
Wilson’s go-ahead, highlight touchdown reception gave the Jets a fourth-quarter lead and they were able to hold on to win 21-13 over the Houston Texans 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 USA TODAY Sports’ winners and losers from the Thursday night tilt:
WINNERS
Garrett Wilson
Wilson made an acrobatic, one-handed catch and managed to get his shin down inbounds in the back of the end zone. The officials originally called Wilson’s TD catch incomplete but reversed the call upon 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 Thursday night with another impressive snag.
Davante Adams also contributed, with seven catches, 91 yards and a touchdown.
Jets’ defense
The Jets’ defense held Texans QB C.J. Stroud to a career-low 36% completion percentage and sacked the quarterback eight times. Stroud was under duress for much of the game and finished with a 59.2 passer rating.
Linebacker Jamien Sherwood and defensive end Micheal Clemons had two sacks apiece. Clemons produced a season-high nine pressures. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams had four tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss.
(Some) New York-area fans
Any Jets fans who double as Yankees fans got a win 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.
LOSERS
Malachi Corley
The Jets ran a nice reverse to Corley in the first half, the wide receiver racing down the right end with blockers in front for what appeared to be a 19-yard touchdown. However, Corley inexplicably celebrated too early; he tossed the football behind him just before he crossed the plane. The football calmly rolled through the back of the end zone.
The officials ruled the play a touchback and awarded the football to Houston.
Corley’s would-be touchdown would’ve given the Jets a 7-0 advantage early in the second quarter. Instead, the Jets hit halftime trailing 7-0.
Texans wide receivers not named Tank Dell
Down Stefon Diggs to a season-ending ACL injury and Nico Collins, who is currently on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, the 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 register a catch and he only had two. Dell, Woods and tight end Dalton Schultz were the only Texans players to record catches in the loss.
The good news is Collins is expected to come off IR soon.
Interior of 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 the inside. 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, once again had a quiet night at the office. The Jets wide receiver had one catch for 6 yards and drew a (questionable) illegal contact penalty on Texans safety Jalen Pitre.
The Jets acquired Williams in March after he was released by the Los Angeles Chargers, but he hasn’t been able to build rapport with Rodgers since arriving in New York.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.