Jets’ Zach Wilson is ‘having fun’ after electric performance earns his 1st NFL win

New York Jets outside linebacker Quincy Williams (56) reacts after he made a big defensive play late in the 4th quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis (84) makes a catch over Tennessee Titans cornerback Breon Borders (39) for a 53-yard touchdown at the 9:03 mark of the fourth quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. This score put the Jets up, 24-17 and they would go on to win, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets defensive back Sharrod Neasman (35) tackles Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) after Henry gained 17 yards on this play in the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) raises his arms as the Jets finally score a touchdown at MetLife Stadium during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh watches as the Tennessee Titans tie the score, 24-24, late in the fourth quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets would go on to win, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets center Connor McGovern (60) lifts up running back Michael Carter (32) after Carter scored a touchdown during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets running back Tevin Coleman (23) was ruled down inside the 1-yard line during overtime against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets had to settle for a field goal and won, 27-24, in overtime.

The New York Jets defense sacked Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) 4 times during the first half Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets running back Michael Carter (32) reacts after he scored a touchdown during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff (47) reacts after he sacked Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) on the final play of the first half Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Josh Reynolds (18) is slammed to the turf by New York Jets cornerback Javelin Guidry (40) after making a catch during the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis (84) is wide open for a 13-yard catch during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets cornerback Bryce Hall (37) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Cameron Batson (13) during the second quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff (47) and teammates sack Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) on the final play of the first half Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets sacked Tannehill 4 times in the first half.

New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff (47) reacts after he sacked Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) on the final play of the first half Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh reacts during the first half against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets cornerback Bryce Hall (37) breaks up a deep pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (15) Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs by New York Jets cornerback Bryce Hall (37) for a 17-yard gain in the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets middle linebacker C.J. Mosley (57) celebrates after he sacked Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) during the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets defense sacked Tannehill 4 times in the first half.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh reacts during the first half against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) avoids New York Jets cornerback Bryce Hall (37) for a 17-yard gain in the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh yells toward side judge Rob Vernatchi (75) during the first half against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets running back Tevin Coleman (23) was ruled down inside the 1-yard line during overtime against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets had to settle for a field goal and won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets fans react in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets would go on to win, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets wide receiver Keelan Cole (88) makes a key, over-the-shoulder catch for a 10-yard gain during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets cornerback Isaiah Dunn (27) breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Josh Reynolds (18) during the fourth quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets fans react as the Jets surrender the lead in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets cornerback Isaiah Dunn (27) breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Josh Reynolds (18) during the fourth quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) earned his first career win on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) walks off the field after the Jets beat the Tennessee Titans, 27-24, in overtime on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) earned his first career win on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) earned his first career win on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets outside linebacker Quincy Williams (56) reacts after he sacked Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) in overtime Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets would go on to win, 27-24, in OT.

New York Jets Robert Saleh earned his first career win as a head coach in the NFL Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets beat the Tennessee Titans, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets wide receiver Keelan Cole (88) gets both feet down to make a key, over-the-shoulder catch for a 10-yard gain during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets fans, including Fireman Ed Anzlaone react as the Jets surrender the lead in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis (84) reacts after he caught a pass for a 53-yard touchdown against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis (84) makes a catch over Tennessee Titans cornerback Breon Borders (39) for a 53-yard touchdown at the 9:03 mark of the fourth quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. This score put the Jets up, 24-17, and they would go on to win, 27-24, in overtime.

New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis (84) makes a catch over Tennessee Titans cornerback Breon Borders (39) for a 53-yard touchdown at the 9:03 mark of the fourth quarter Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. This score put the Jets up, 24-17, and they would go on to win, 27-24, in overtime.

When Robert Saleh spoke to Zach Wilson shortly after the Jets notched their first win together, a thrilling 27-24 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, the rookie head coach looked at his rookie quarterback and asked a simple question:

“Are you having fun yet?”

He knew the answer, of course, was yes.

Wilson had just put together the best performance of his young NFL career, one filled with the kind of throws that convinced Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas to pick him second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and hand him the keys to the downtrodden franchise.

He completed a handful of jaw-dropping passes throughout a performance where he threw two touchdowns, 297 yards and an interception on 21-of-34 passing.

On a 2nd-and-10 early in the fourth quarter, after fumbling the snap, Wilson picked up the ball, stepped back and lofted a well-placed ball to wide receiver Jamison Crowder for a 29-yard gain.

“We had checked to our second play and pre-snap, I was like ‘dude, this is going to be huge,’” Wilson said of the play. “That might be why I fumbled the snap, because I know (Jamison) was going to be open.”

Earlier in the game, he found Keenan Cole for the first deep shot of his electric evening, completing a 54-yard pass after rolling to his right.

But it was Wilson’s second touchdown pass that was easily the best of the bunch: after faking a handoff and rolling to his right, he sees wide receiver Corey Davis with some separation downfield. He points towards him and, with a defender closing in, launches a ball more than 50 yards in the air right into Davis’ hands to give the Jets a 24-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter. It was the longest completed pass by a Jets quarterback over the last five seasons, per Next Gen Stats.

Asked what he was going through his head during the play, Saleh echoed the sentiment likely felt by every fan in the stands: “No no no no nooooo--oh my god!”

The receiver on the play was less surprised.

“He’s been good at that,” Davis said. “Just keeping the play alive, and that’s what he did there. He said ‘go deep’ and I listened.”

Davis is reminded of Saleh’s line following the Jets’ Week 2 loss against the Patriots, when he said his rookie quarterback has to learn to “be boring” at times.

“It wasn’t boring today!” Davis quipped.

All that excitement could not have happened without the slog that was the Jets’ first scoring drive of the evening.

The 11-play, 75-yard drive in the second quarter set the tone for the evening, Wilson said. Michael Carter’s 2-yard run into the end zone five minutes before halftime snapped a 9-quarter, 26-possession long touchdown drought for the Jets.

“I felt like a lot of tension fell off of everybody,” Wilson said. “That was like ‘Okay, we’re doing what we know we can do now.’ The tension is kind of gone there, guys were playing looser, I was playing looser. It was exciting.”

Those highs were a new feeling for Wilson, but the familiar woes of the first three weeks did show up at times.

The Jets offense started off slowly, going 3-and-out in their first two drives. Wilson missed his first three throws and threw an interception in his third drive. It felt like deja-vu for the worst offense in the NFL.

The first touchdown drive flipped the switch for the Jets as they got rolling, but the offense stalled again in crunch time. They went 3-and-out on the drive following Davis’ 53-yard touchdown catch and only lasted five plays on the next drive, wasting a chance to seal the win and allowing the Titans to force overtime.

The Jets got the ball to start the extra period, and after another great throw from Wilson, had a 3rd-and-goal from the 1-yard line. A touchdown would have sealed the victory and the Jets were in two-down territory, but Wilson lost three yards after attempting to run the ball in himself rather than throwing it away.

Wilson said he was still beating himself up over the mistake, and Saleh will remind him of it, just like he’ll reinforce that Sunday’s performance is why he believes so much in him in the first place and that when things go well, football is fun.

“The kid was outstanding,” Saleh said. “There are still going to be things that he knows he can clean up. He had a chance to end it in overtime. But he was resilient, he had resolve and he was a playmaker.”

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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.

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