The Jets’ defense was in control of the game for most of the first half until safety Lamarcus Joyner was flagged for pass interference.
The call came with 4:35 left in the second quarter and Baltimore up 3-0. It looked like Joyner ran into Ravens receiver Demarcus Robinson. The flag moved the ball 32 yards from the Ravens 38 to the Jets 30. Three plays later, Lamar Jackson found Devin Duvernay for a 25-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
“I was playing football,” Joyner told The Post. “It’s not like I was man-to-man on the guy. The quarterback put the ball in the air. I beat the guy to the point of attack and we ran into each other. I’m still looking for the ball and the refs called it. At that point, that’s just personal — do you feel like throwing a flag today or not?”
Joyner and the defense felt they played well outside of a few explosive plays the Ravens hit.
“It inspired me today to know that we’re not the same Jets,” Joyner said. “I honestly think we played very well against a playoff team. If you eliminate those mistakes, those explosives, then who knows where the game is right now.”
Jets rookie receiver Garrett Wilson, who caught five passes for 52 yards and showed some flashes of his first-round-pick talent, came away ticked off by his performance.
“I love playing and I put a lot of pressure on myself and this wasn’t what we wanted to do,’’ Wilson said. “This isn’t how I wanted to go out and have my first real NFL game look like. So, I don’t feel good about anything that went on out there.’’
Asked what he learned from his NFL debut, Wilson said, “Taking advantage of my opportunities. I feel like I have a good understanding of my role, so it’s just coming in and executing right away and make all those plays — whether it’s my first play off the bench or my eighth play.
“I hold myself to a high standard, and I don’t want there to be any excuses out there for anything.’’
Jets coach Robert Saleh did not sound too optimistic about getting LT Duane Brown back. The Jets placed Brown on injured reserve on Saturday and he could return in four weeks.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll get him back,” Saleh said. “We’ll see how this rehab stint goes for him.”
The Jets went 2-for-14 on third down on Sunday. They were 1-for-14 in the 2021 season finale against the Bills — making them a whopping 3-for-28 in their last two games combined.
The Jets have now lost their last 13 games in September, an NFL record. … QB Joe Flacco’s 59 pass attempts is tied for sixth-most in franchise history and it is the most since Mark Sanchez attempted 59 against the Giants on Dec. 24, 2011, the famous Victor Cruz game. Vinny Testaverde holds the record with 69 attempts against the Ravens on Dec. 24, 2000.
Hero
Even with an off-the-mark first half, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson still was way too much to handle as he threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns and had one dazzling scramble to convert a third-and-8 when it was still a close game.
Zero
The Jets’ offensive line allowed 10 quarterback hurries and three sacks — and reshuffled left tackle George Fant (two sacks allowed, one holding penalty) was more culpable than third-string rookie right tackle Max Mitchell in his NFL debut.
Unsung hero
Ravens WR Devin Duvernay had two career touchdown catches on 73 targets entering the game — and added two more on his first four targets in the first game of his third season.
Key stat
59 Pass attempts by Joe Flacco, the most by a Jets quarterback since Mark Sanchez’s 59 in a franchise-altering loss to the Giants on Dec. 24, 2011.
Quote of the day
“I know everyone is thinking, ‘Same old s–t.’ But it’s not the same old s–t. We’ve got a good team.” — Jets tight end Tyler Conklin