FLOWERY BRANCH — Robert Saleh, who interviewed for the Falcons’ head coaching position in January, picked up his first win with the New York Jets on Sunday.
The Jets (1-3) face the Falcons (1-3) at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, who was selected No. 2 overall in this year’s draft, led the Jets to a stunning 27-24 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Wilson dazzled Jets fans by tossing touchdown passes while on the run, and the defense, led by four-time Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley, racked up seven sacks in the victory.
“We say this thing about boring football, but we’re not looking for Charlie Checkdown,” Saleh said of Wilson to the New York media Monday. “We still want to be aggressive and be smart with the ball.”
After not seeing a safety deep, Wilson tossed a 53-yard touchdown pass to Corey Davis after waving him to go down the field. Wilson ability to create plays may cause the Falcons trouble. The Falcons had issues containing Washington’s Taylor Heinicke’s playmaking ability in the 34-30 loss Sunday.
But it’s the simpler plays that Saleh wants to see Wilson make more often.
“What gets lost in the excitement of big plays is that seven of his completions were for fewer than 7 yards,” Saleh said. “There was even more to be had. The missed third-down pass to Corey and Griff (Ryan Griffin) that could have closed out the game. Everyone saw his creativity and off-schedule game. That represents a small part. His head was in the right spot.”
Wilson, who played at Brigham Young, has completed 79 of 139 passes (56.8%) for 925 yards, four touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has a passer rating of 62.8.
Credit: Seth Wenig
Credit: Seth Wenig
Davis, formerly of the Titans, is the Jets’ top receiver, with 16 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Braxton Berrios has 15 catches for 150 yards. Keelan Cole has five for 122 yards.
The wide receiver group regained Jamison Crowder, who missed the first three games with a groin injury. He had seven catches for 61 yards in the win over the Titans.
Rookie Michael Carter, who was drafted in the fourth round out of North Carolina, is the Jets’ leading rusher. He has 37 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Mosley, who elected to opt out of last season during the coronavirus pandemic, led the Jets with 13 tackles against the Titans.
“You know he’s phenomenal,” Saleh said. “He did something I’ve never had a (linebacker) do in our system. If you listen to the TV copy, he was demonstrative, like he’s changing a play -- which he was, which we don’t do. He saw something he didn’t like. The coaches were like ‘what is he doing?’ He got us into the perfect play call, and we got a sack.”
The Falcons, who had the fourth overall pick in the draft, heavily scouted the quarterbacks, including Wilson.
“Good player,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “Live arm. You can see it.”
The Falcons also are aware of Wilson’s ability to scramble and extend plays.
“It’s a challenge,” Smith said. “He’s a talented thrower. He can make all of the throws and get out. ... He extends plays, and he can make every throw on the field. That’s what I saw.”
The Jets’ defense, which is coordinated by former Falcons linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich, is aggressive.
“You know their approach up there,” Smith said. “They are going to have their ears pinned back and be ready to rock ‘n’ roll. We have to make sure that we are ready to go, too.”
The Falcons are trying to bounce back after a tough 34-30 loss to Washington, which took the lead with 33 seconds left in the game.
“Those guys are going to be ready to go,” Falcons safety Duron Harmon said. “We just have to make sure that our feelings and emotions (are) spun throughout the team so that everybody is feeling the same way.”
The Falcons and the Jets will leave Thursday and fly through the night. The Falcons will have a practice Friday in London.
“We can get the work that we need and practice that we need,” Harmon said. “So that we can have a great week of preparation. Then go out there and win a football in London on Sunday. It’s been good energy. We can pick it up a notch. We’ve got to take it up a notch. The urgency has to rise.”
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Falcons’ 2021 schedule features trip to London, January trip to Buffalo
Atlanta Falcons Schedule
New York Jets vs. Falcons in London, Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Bye Week
Falcons at Miami Dolphins, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
