After five agonizing weeks, the New York Jets have finally broken one of the most infamous streaks in modern NFL history. For the first time this season, their defense has successfully forced a turnover, and it immediately put points on the board against the Denver Broncos.
Let's set the stage: coming into this London game, the Jets were carrying a massive burden. They were the first team since the NFL began officially tracking turnovers back in 1933—that's over 90 years of football—to go an entire five games without a single defensive takeaway. But here's where it gets controversial... can a team that struggles so fundamentally to create opportunities on defense truly be considered a playoff contender? This single play might have just saved them from an utterly embarrassing historical record.
The streak-busting moment happened on the Broncos' very first offensive drive. Rookie cornerback Jarvis Brownlee made the crucial play, expertly knocking the football loose from the grasp of Denver wide receiver Troy Franklin. In the ensuing scramble for the ball, safety Andre Cisco was the quickest to react, diving on the fumble to give the Jets possession. And this is the part most people miss: the impact was instant. They didn't just get the ball; they took over in Broncos territory, perfectly positioned to score.
Now, the drive wasn't without a hiccup. A false start penalty pushed them back five yards, which could have derailed a less resilient team. But a couple of effective runs by quarterback Justin Fields—a strategy some fans might question versus passing—managed to get them close enough for veteran kicker Nick Folk to attempt a long 52-yard field goal.
The result? Folk's kick was pure, splitting the uprights and giving the Jets an early 3-0 lead with 11 minutes still remaining in the opening quarter. So, what's your take? Is this forced fumble a true turning point for the Jets' season, or was it merely a lucky break against a struggling Broncos team that doesn't change their underlying defensive issues? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
