America in meltdown over New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson’s ‘best catch ever’
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson has made one of the greatest plays of all-time that has left Americans with their jaws on the floor.
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson has pulled off a catch that’s been called one of the greatest in history in his side’s 21-13 win over the Houston Texans.
Having suffered a five-game losing streak that saw former head coach Robert Salah sacked on October 8, it took the near-miraculous feat for the Jets to overcome the Texans.
Down 10-7 early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw it up toward Wilson, who took a one-handed grab that had the US losing its collective minds.
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Compared to Odell Beckham Jr.’s catch of the year in 2015, Wilson was travelling at pace when he snatched the ball out of the sky.
The referees immediately called it incomplete as it appeared Wilson was travelling too far, with his knee grounded out of bounds.
But it was overturned as Wilson got his shin down in the back end of the end zone to score the touchdown.
“The left shin hit the ground in bounds before the knee goes out of bounds,” the referee said in the review. “That puts him in bounds with control. Touchdown.”
Speaking to reporters after the game, Wilson said he believed Beckham’s catch was better.
“I was watching it live,” Wilson said. “Odell’s catch was different man, he got two feet down, the ball was going to land out of bounds, and it was Odell man, Odell against the Cowboys. That was the one.
“For it to even come up in that convo I’m blessed, I’m honoured, but Odell’s just that boy.”
When one of the reporters said that the Giants had lost that game, Wilson said: “Alright … Fair enough”, cracking up the assembled media.
Wilson also admitted he wasn’t confident the touchdown would be awarded.
Rodgers said Wilson had told him to “throw it up”, and he obliged.
“I didn’t do a whole lot when it comes down to it, I just lobbed one up there and he made an unbelievable catch,” Rodgers said. “That was a huge play, game-changing play.”
Interim Jets coach Jeff Ulbrich was blown away by the grab.
“Oh my goodness — I was talking to the ref when they were reviewing it saying ‘just for the sake of posterity you have to say that’s in just so it goes down in history,” he said.
“It would rival the Odell catch. It was amazing.”
Davante Adams, who scored the match sealing touchdown with three minutes left in the match joked his teammate could lose his Adidas sponsorship for the grab.
“I told him he might get kicked from Adidas after that one,” Adams said. “That one looked like he headed over to Jumpman (NBA logo) with me.
“I’m gonna talk to some people about that one. I ain’t going to say they’re gonna replace the logo but that was a hard catch.”
He added that Wilson would do things like that at training and walk-throughs when the players are mucking around.
It was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to reactions as social media erupted over the play.
NFL reporter Ari Meirov said: “HOLY COW. Garrett Wilson just made the catch of the season!
“It’s officially a TD after review. This is OBJ-like. INSANITY!!!”
Fox Sports 1’s Chase Daniel commented: “Garrett Wilson just ‘single-handedly’ saved the Jets season. WOW.
“Best catch ever?”
Sports writer Dov Kleiman exclaimed: “HOLY SH*T GARRETT WILSON WHAT A CATCH.
“They gotta let that count!”
The Athletic’s James Boyd posted: “I have no idea what’s a catch anymore, but that’s one of the greatest catches I’ve ever seen. Garrett Wilson — have a day!”
NFL analyst Mike Kennedy wrote: “I have not gasped as loudly at a player’s catch since *the* Odell Beckham Jr catch in 2014.
“My lord, Garrett Wilson is not human. Rule of cool and all that, yes, but he may have actually gotten his shin down!
“‘Catch of the year’ would be an understatement.”
Rodgers, who has come under-fire for his underwhelming performances this season, connected on 22-of-32 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns.
It looked to be more of the same after a horror first half saw Rodgers complete just seven of 14 passing attempts for 32 yards — a first-half career low for the four-time NFL MVP.
But after Wilson opened the scoring with a one-handed catch in the third quarter, he then blew the NFL’s minds with his second.
A 37-yard scoring pass to Davante Adams that gave New York a 21-10 lead with less than three minutes remaining basically completed the victory.