Late fumble wastes bounce-back effort from Jets' Zach Wilson

 Late fumble wastes bounce-back effort from Jets' Zach Wilson

 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Zach Wilson played the best game of his NFL career on Sunday night, but one costly mistake wasted it all.

The Jets quarterback fumbled a shotgun snap at midfield with 7:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Kansas City Chiefs recovered to seal a 23-20 victory.

"To be driving right there and to drop a snap -- I cannot do that," Wilson told reporters after the game. "I lost us that game, and I can't do that."

Wilson had completed a career-high 28 passes on 39 attempts for 245 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He posted a career-high 105.2 passer rating.

"Zach played a great game," Jets coach Robert Saleh said. "He made a lot of plays. He was poised. He was accurate. He made some big throws. Unfortunately, that one play at the end is going to stick out. But he's a young quarterback, and he's going to learn from it."

The Jets were driving for a potential game-winning touchdown when the fumble happened. Wilson had just completed a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Elijah Moore to put the Jets at the Chiefs' 40-yard line.

On the next play, Wilson took the shotgun snap from center Connor McGovern, but the ball slipped out of his hands. Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. recovered the fumble, and the Chiefs were able to run out the clock.

"I just got to focus on catching the snap," Wilson said. "That's all I can say. It's just unfortunate. I cost us the game."

Wilson's teammates rallied around him after the game.

"Zach played a great game," Jets running back Breece Hall said. "He's a young quarterback, and he's going to make mistakes. But he's going to learn from them, and he's going to be a great player for us."

The Jets are now 1-2 on the season. They will play the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday.

Analysis

Wilson's fumble was a heartbreaking way to lose the game, but it's important to remember that he's still a young quarterback. He's going to make mistakes, but he's also going to learn from them and improve.

It's also important to note that Wilson played a very good game overall. He was accurate with his throws, and he made some big plays. If he can continue to play at that level, the Jets will be in good shape.

The Jets are still a rebuilding team, but they have some talented young players, including Wilson. If they can stay healthy, they could be a playoff contender in a few years