Jets vs. Chargers score, takeaways: Los Angeles shuts down Zach Wilson, New York in ugly prime-time matchup

The Chargers dominated from start to finish

If the Jets want Aaron Rodgers to play again this season, they'll have to play considerably better moving forward than they did Monday night. The Jets were completely outplayed by the visiting Chargers, who left the Big Apple with a 27-6 win. 

The win moved the Chargers to .500, while the Jets are also at .500 after seeing their three-game winning streak come to an emphatic end. 

Los Angeles set the tone early on Darius Davis' 87-yard punt return for a score after its defense forced a punt on the game's opening drive. A strip-sack by Joey Bosa two series later set up Austin Ekeler's short touchdown run that stretched the Chargers' lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter. 

Down 17-3 at halftime, the Jets hung around and were technically still in the game entering the fourth quarter. But Khalil Mack's strip-sack of Wilson with 4:36 left sealed the Chargers' win as it set up Ekeler's second touchdown run of the night. 

It was an ugly night for both offenses. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw for just 136 yards and was sacked five times. Wilson threw for 259 yards, but he was sacked eight times while committing those two costly fumbles.

Here's a closer look at what went down on Monday night. 

Why the Chargers won 

For a second straight week, the Chargers played complementary football. The special teams took advantage of the defense's early success, while the Chargers' offense scored both of their touchdowns off turnovers. 

It was a banner night for Joey Bosa, who tormented the Jets' offense to the tune of 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu had two sacks apiece for a defense that never allowed the Jets' offense to get on track. 

Why the Jets lost 

It's hard to win a game when your offense doesn't do anything. It's impossible to win when your offense doesn't do anything and also puts your defense in bad spots by turning the ball over. That's what happened Monday night, as the Jets' offense did nothing while also putting its defense is terrible spots. 

New York's defense played well, but it didn't make the momentum-changing plays it seemed to will into existence during the team's recent winning streak. The unit, led by C.J. Mosley (11 tackles) and Bryce Huff (1.5 sacks) did everything else, though, including holding the Chargers to just 191 total yards. 

Wilson's struggles during his career have been well-documented, and they were on full display Monday night. The former No. 2 overall pick struggled to make routine plays and was simply no match for the Chargers' defense. He did complete 33 passes, but his miscues greatly outweighed the things he did well. 

It wasn't all on Wilson, though. The Jets needed to get more from their ground game, which gained just 64 yards on 20 carries. 

Turning point 

New York appeared to be finding some rhythm on offense at the start of the second half. The Jets' first drive of the half ended with a field goal, and they were able to drive to the Chargers' 32-yard line on their ensuing drive after their defense forced a quick three-and-out. 

A false start penalty, however, put the Jets into a third-and-8 situation from the Chargers' 37-yard-line. Wilson was sacked by Bosa on the play, and the Jets' once promising drive resulted in a punt. The Chargers' offense then proceeded to march 68 yards in 16 plays on a drive that Cameron Dicker capped with his second field goal of the night. The Chargers led 20-6 at that point, and the Jets never threatened again. 

Play of the game 

The key play on the Chargers' 16-play scoring drive was Keenan Allen's balletic 23-yard catch that put him over the 10,000 career receiving yardage mark. Allen is only the 54th player in league history and sixth active player to reach that milestone. 

Here's a slow-motion look at Allen's incredible catch. 

Quotable 

"We knew we had a good chance to affect the quarterback, and I think we did just that." -- Bosa to ESPN's Lisa Salters 

What's next 

The Chargers will head home to face the 6-2 Detroit Lions, who are coming off of their bye week. The Jets will take their act to Las Vegas where they'll face a Raiders team that is coming off their blowout win over the Giants during Antonio Pierce's first game as interim coach. 

[Nov 6, 2023 at 11:16 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Fitting way to end this one. Jets throw it short of the end zone and get tackled just outside the line. Chargers will take it, 27-6.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 11:15 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

CJ Uzomah was wide-the-heck open in the end zone and Wilson hit him in the chest... and Uzomah dropped it. That kind of night for New York.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 11:12 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Congrats to anyone who has Michael Carter on their fantasy team, I suppose.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 11:08 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Anyway, each of these teams will go to 4-4 after this game. The Chargers play the Lions next week, then the Packers and Ravens through the end of November. The Jets will face the Raiders, Bills, and then the Dolphins in the NFL's first-ever Black Friday game.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 11:07 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Finally another first down for the Jets, but none of this is gonna matter. The Jets offense is broken beyond belief and it's undermining a fantastic defense. Again.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 11:00 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Austin Ekeler's into the end zone and this one is all but over.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:59 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Another sack. This one by Khalil Mack. And a fumble, recovery by Alohi Gilman and taken back to the 2-yard line. Nightmare night for the Jets offensive line.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:53 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The Chargers basically ran it into the line three times and are content to punt because the Jets essentially cannot move the ball and still need two touchdowns. 

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:48 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

That is the SIXTH sack of the night for the Chargers. Bosa, Tuipulotu, and Mack all in on the action. 

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:47 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

This Jets offensive line is a major problem. Injuries are a factor but it's not good.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:45 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Wilson had Wilson open over the middle right there and just flat-out missed the throw. That's a possible touchdown. You have to hit him in stride there.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:41 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

That catch also put Keenan Allen over 10,000 receiving yards for his career. He's still second in Chargers history behind only Antonio Gates.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:39 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

He was absolutely wide open and Herbert missed pretty badly with the throw, but Keenan made what will surely be one of the best catches of the year. Holy cow.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:38 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

OH MY GOD KEENAN ALLEN!!!!!

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:36 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Nice series of third-down pickups for L.A., with Herbert finding Quentin Johnston and then Keenan Allen to move the chains. 

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:30 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Herbert got absolutely clobbered by Solomon Thomas and Will McDonald and fumbled, but it came right back to him. Huge break for the Chargers there.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:25 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Joey Bosa is absolutely wrecking things up front. That's his third sack of the night. The Jets are having a ton of problems up front.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:23 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The Jets have converted only 55.6% of their third- and fourth-and-1 runs this year. That's the fifth-worst mark in the league. (Coincidentally, the Chargers are one of the team that has been worse.) But they picked one up right there to extend this drive.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:20 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Don't think Derwin James needed to hold Conklin there. He was in good enough position to make a play on the ball.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:17 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

That was Wilson's best throw of the night. Under duress, over the middle, between a couple defenders for a chunk gain.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:06 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

And then Mack and Bosa pick up back-to-back sacks to knock the Jets to the far part of field goal range. Yikes. 

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:05 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Wilson spotted the blitz coming off the edge and quickly found his hot read over the middle for a nice gain. Jets in the red zone for the first time.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 10:02 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Hey now that's a nice play from Zach Wilson. Scrambled away from pressure and threw across his body down the field to make a big play out of nothing. Garrett Wilson with some YAC as well.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 9:47 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Not a coincidence that the Chargers finally moved the ball again after going back to the "throw it to Keenan Allen" offense. Dicker the kicker knocks it through from 55 yards to extend the lead to 17-3 at the half. Jets will get the ball to start the third quarter.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 9:44 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Derius Davis having himself a night. Put the Chargers in position for a potential end-of-half field goal drive with another good return.

[Nov 6, 2023 at 9:42 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Zach Wilson almost got picked there. Would have had to throw the ball through a couple defenders to hit his intended target, which is less than ideal.