Fresh off his best game as a pro, Wilson completed 7 of 18 in the first half for 76 yards as the Jets were limited to a pair of field goals from Piñeiro (36 and 46 yards). The Jets' top two wideouts — Elijah Moore and Corey Davis — were placed on injured reserve earlier this week, RB Michael Carter (high ankle) remains sidelined, RB Tevin Coleman (concussion protocol) was out and Austin Walter was active but couldn't go on game day because of illness.
"I thought the guys today were ready for the opportunity to step up," Wilson said. "I have to give them some better throws, put them in better situations. Obviously it would be nice to have those guys, but this is how the NFL goes -- next guy up. I thought they did a nice job."
Although Wilson converted a fourth-and-7 with a 14-yard connection to WR Braxton Berrios and eluded pressure before finding TE Ryan Griffin for a 22-yard catch-and-run and pitched in with an 18-yard scramble, the Jets were 1-of-7 on third downs in an uneven opening two quarters.
On the Jets' first three possessions in the second half, they punted twice and turned the ball over on downs. Berrios was targeted a team-high 10 times and led the offense with six catches and 52 receiving yards. The final play from scrimmage had Wilson scrambling for 5 yards to the New Orleans 1 and the Jets were held without a touchdown.
"Just not executing, that's all it really comes down to," Wilson said. "I've got to make better throws. We have to establish some drives and get going. The defense did a good job holding them up, gave us a lot of opportunities and we have to take advantage of them on offense."
Saleh added: "It wasn't his cleanest game. He was hindered with some drops early, don't know if that threw him off or not. He's played better in the past and he'll get better from it."
The drops Saleh were referring to included three times in the first three drives when Wilson tried to connect with RB Ty Johnson out of the backfield. Johnson couldn't corral any of the passes from the No. 2 overall pick, including one third-and-2 that would have moved the chains. Instead, the offense went three and out.
"It hit my hands and I dropped it," said Johnson, who finished with 4 catches for 40 yards. "What else is there to say? I can make those catches and I believe in myself to make those catches. I just didn't give eyes to the ball to look it all the way in and I told Zach it was completely on me. If it touches my hands, I need to bring it in. I told him on the sideline and I told him in the locker room just now. I've been catching all year out of the backfield. I just couldn't look them in those first three ones. I caught them in the second half and bounced back from it. I feel like I ended on a better note."
"I thought the guys today were ready for the opportunity to step up," Wilson said. "I have to give them some better throws, put them in better situations. Obviously it would be nice to have those guys, but this is how the NFL goes -- next guy up. I thought they did a nice job."
Although Wilson converted a fourth-and-7 with a 14-yard connection to WR Braxton Berrios and eluded pressure before finding TE Ryan Griffin for a 22-yard catch-and-run and pitched in with an 18-yard scramble, the Jets were 1-of-7 on third downs in an uneven opening two quarters.
On the Jets' first three possessions in the second half, they punted twice and turned the ball over on downs. Berrios was targeted a team-high 10 times and led the offense with six catches and 52 receiving yards. The final play from scrimmage had Wilson scrambling for 5 yards to the New Orleans 1 and the Jets were held without a touchdown.
"Just not executing, that's all it really comes down to," Wilson said. "I've got to make better throws. We have to establish some drives and get going. The defense did a good job holding them up, gave us a lot of opportunities and we have to take advantage of them on offense."
Saleh added: "It wasn't his cleanest game. He was hindered with some drops early, don't know if that threw him off or not. He's played better in the past and he'll get better from it."
The drops Saleh were referring to included three times in the first three drives when Wilson tried to connect with RB Ty Johnson out of the backfield. Johnson couldn't corral any of the passes from the No. 2 overall pick, including one third-and-2 that would have moved the chains. Instead, the offense went three and out.
"It hit my hands and I dropped it," said Johnson, who finished with 4 catches for 40 yards. "What else is there to say? I can make those catches and I believe in myself to make those catches. I just didn't give eyes to the ball to look it all the way in and I told Zach it was completely on me. If it touches my hands, I need to bring it in. I told him on the sideline and I told him in the locker room just now. I've been catching all year out of the backfield. I just couldn't look them in those first three ones. I caught them in the second half and bounced back from it. I feel like I ended on a better note."