'we Have To Get Over That Hump': Jets Lament Collapse Against Raiders, Struggles In One-score Games

The Jets are 2-6 with five one-score losses after Sunday's 38-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

"That's frustrating, for sure," said wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who caught six passes on 12 targets for 83 yards (13.8 average) with a long of 31 as the Jets outgained the Raiders by a 439-333 margin in total yards.

"That's the name of the game in this league -- the margins are that slim. You can't afford to leave a play out there. And we all know this in this locker room. We know how precious two-minute is, how precious end of halves and end of games are. We drill it all the time. We practice it. We had some letdowns in those scenarios today."

New York led 30-21 with 8:20 left in the third quarter after running back Braelon Allen's 21-yard touchdown run, but the Raiders (4-4) outscored them by a 17-3 margin the rest of the way.

"I'm upset in general because of where we're at as a team -- and I mean that, for the record -- because there's always things that you're going to be things that you want to get better at," said Jets coach Aaron Glenn. "So, if anything, if I want to put my thumb on something, that's it -- the record that we have right now -- 'cause I always feel like there's things to work on. I just know, defensively, we can't give up that many points and expect to win. We can't give a kick return for a touchdown and expect to win.

"Those things are hard to recover from and, plus, it just sucks the life out of the whole building. ... I thought are fans were in it. I thought they did a great job of creating momentum for all of us. So, I'm really appreciative of that. Again, we have to fix those things -- as a team -- for us to get over that hump of these close games."

With three straight losses and Week 9 set to be an uphill battle on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, who entered Sunday's game versus the Denver Broncos at 5-1, the road does not get any easier for New York.

"I think that's the reality of sports," said quarterback Geno Smith, who completed 20 of 32 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns against one interception -- a game-sealing INT in the end zone, a "Hail Mary" intended for Wilson with seven seconds left. "I think that's the reality of life. You work and you work and you get better every day. You take that approach -- a constant, never-ending self-improvement mindset. And whether you're winning or losing, you have to continue to get better.

"So, for anyone who has a pessimistic outlook on life, I think you have to ultimately take ownership and say, 'Where can I get better?' And for me as the quarterback, I'm going to look myself in the mirror and say, 'How can I get better for this team so that we can finish these games?'"