NY Jets 20, Atlanta Falcons 27: Zach Wilson struggles, Kyle Pitts goes off

The New York Jets could not make it two in a row from London

• New York Jets 20 (1-4)
• Atlanta Falcons 27 (2-3)
• NFL, Week 5, Final, Box Score
• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England

A different kind of pub crawl, one set to climax with a comeback, fell just short for the New York Jets.

Matt Ryan threw for 342 yards and two scores while Kyle Pitts set an infantile career-best with 119 yards on nine receptions as the Atlanta Falcons escaped London with a 27-17 victory in London on Sunday morning.

The Jets were unable to start a winning streak after topping Tennessee last weekend after falling behind by three possessions in the early going.

Atlanta scored on each of its first three drives, with the touchdown treks totaling 169 yards.

Kyle Pitts finished off the first with a two-yard score, the first six-pointer of his NFL career, while Hayden Hurst added another one from 17. Younghoe Koo’s triple on the opening possession helped create the early three-possession lead.

KYLE PITTS HAS HIS FIRST NFL TD‼️

The Falcons go up by 10 in London.

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/7EAeaWR9T6

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 10, 2021

Hayden Hurst puts 6 more on the board 💥

Falcons are rolling in London

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/9lhUVK4ewe

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 10, 2021

The Falcons seemed poised to stretch the lead further, but C.J. Mosley forced a fumble from Hurst that was recovered by Michael Carter II.

New York thus embarked on a nearly-eight-minute drive that ate 74 yards on 16 plays and ended in a Matt Ammendola field goal.

Koo did manage to get one more before the half let out, dooming the Jets to a 20-3 halftime deficit.

i miss cj mosley too ☹️

former raven on former raven crime pic.twitter.com/Ev0QceYZf1

— 🌵 (@SimplyAS10prod) October 10, 2021

The Jets opened the second half in the finest way possible: Tevin Coleman’s 73-yard return situated the Jets only 29 yards away from the end zone. Another running back hit paydirt seven plays later when Ty Johnson earned his first score of the year.

It was the first of two second-half rushing scores for the Jets, as Michael Carter put one in from the two after a costly pass interference penalty.

Wilson then found Jamison Crowder for two points on the latter, making up for a missed Ammendola extra point.

Cheerio! Ty Johnson flies into the end zone 💪 @nyjets | @NFLUK pic.twitter.com/Es6x9PfDjv

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 10, 2021

TD JETS (+3)

Michael Carter punches it in after a baddd Falcons penalty and the 2-point conversion is good 👀

(via @NFLUK) pic.twitter.com/9JxIN1ovIh

— Pickswise (@Pickswise) October 10, 2021

The Jets’ defense would handle business as they inched closer. Atlanta drove the cusp of the red zone on a 10-play, 68-yard drive, but Quincy Williams forced a Mike Davis fumble that was recovered by Shaq Lawson, keeping the Falcons’ tally at 20.

Williams had forced another fumble from Hurst earlier in the third quarter but the ball had bounced harmlessly out of bounds.

Whatever @quincywilliams_' hit power is, make it higher @EAMaddenNFL#NYJvsATL on NFLN pic.twitter.com/qS0aNbUd1H

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 10, 2021

Alas for the Jets, the defense was unable to come up big one final time when the Falcons embarked on a 75-yard drive that sealed the deal, one that featured two crucial third-down conversions.

The first came near midfield, as Olamide Zaccheaus added two extra yards when he needed 13. Mike Davis would punch it in from three yards out to re-establish the multi-possession lead.

.@MikeDavisRB: 😤😤😤

Powering through with two minutes to play for a clutch TD!#DirtyBirds | @NFLUK

📺: #NYJvsATL on @NFLNetwork
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/jvUf5rZuwh

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2021

Each team now sets off on its post-London bye Week. The Jets (1-4) return to action on Oct. 24 when they battle the New England Patriots on the road (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags