Rain-marred game reaches halftime with Jets leading Broncos, 6-0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Maybe next time, the Denver defense can stay on the tennis courts  but the  Broncos’ offense has to practice outside in the rain.

It steadily rained all morning and through the first half of the AFC game between the Broncos and New York Jets here Sunday at soggy MetLife Stadium. The wet remnants of Hurricane Helene that disrupted much of the Broncos’ practice preparation during the week at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia made its way to the Meadowlands.

It rained so bad Friday at the Greenbrier, the Broncos held a walkthrough practice at the resort’s indoor tennis and pickleball courts. The rain and slick artificial surface here Sunday clearly hampered the respective offenses. At halftime, the Jets lead the Broncos, 6-0 on two short, Greg Zuerlein field goals.

At the 2-minute warning of the first half, the two teams had not yet cracked 100 yards in combined total offense.

Broncos’ rookie quarterback Bo Nix and 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers were both negatively affected by the conditions. Nix was 7 of 15 for -7 yards at the half. He attempted a couple downfield throws but they were so far off target, Broncos coach Sean Payton mostly had him throw behind-the-line or short, wide passes. (Thus the -7 yards.)

Rodgers wasn’t that much better, going 4 of 11 for 22 yards before he hit a wide open Alan Lazard across the middle for 25 yards on the first play after the 2-minute warning.

The first quarter ended with the score 0-0 and the two teams combined for just 21 yards of total offense – 15 yards for the Jets; 6 for the Broncos.

The first quarter also ended with the Jets at the Broncos’ 1 yard line. A fumble by running back Tyler Badie gave the Jets good field position and a 34-yard pass interference penalty on Broncos’ cornerback Riley Moss put them there. (Badie was injured on the play and carted off the field with a back injury.)

The Denver defense, outstanding again, stopped Jets’ running back Bryce Hall short of the goal line on his first two running attempts. Then a incomplete pass by Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Then a false start by the Jets.

Perfect! First and goal at the 1 and the Jets settle for a Greg Zuerlein field goal.

It almost matched the series of futility the Broncos’ offense had on their first possession. After safety Brandon Jones forced receiver Garrett Wilson to fumble and Moss recovered at the Jets’ 30, rookie quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos’ offense was in great shape. But a penalty and couple losses had the Broncos going backwards.

Rain or no rain, the Vance Joseph-coached Denver defense was outstanding. First play of the game, Joseph had his new starting linebacker Justin Strnad come on a blitz. Strnad, in his first defensive snap in three years, sacked Rodgers for an 8-yard loss. Strnad also had a tackle for loss as he stepped up big in place of star linebacker Alex Singleton, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury last week at Tampa Bay.

Per source, Singleton will undergo surgery on his torn right ACL on Oct. 15 in Los Angeles. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the operation. Singleton suffered the injury during Brandon Jones’ interception return last week at Tampa Bay. That was the eighth defensive play of the game. Singleton played 49 more defensive play on the torn ACL – an incredible feat of strength.

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Singleton is a known disciple of the True Movement Method, which is a three-dimensional system that focuses on stability, mobility and strength, particularly with the quad, hamstring, groin and calf muscles pregame. That may have been why he was asymptomatic until there was swelling after the game and then tests revealed the damage.

Rookie receiver Devaughn Vele and tight end Lucas Krull were again among the Broncos’ inactives. …

Before the game, Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and former Jets’ quarterback Zach Wilson exchanged pleasantries on the field. Wilson was once again the Broncos’ emergency No. 3 QB. …

The Broncos’ top receiver at halftime was running back Javonte Williams with one catch for -1 yard.

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