Jets celebrate Hackett's revenge on Broncos: 'He really wanted this game'

Sunday's 31-21 victory over the Denver Broncos was extra special for the New York Jets, who made Nathaniel Hackett a winner in the offensive coordinator's revenge game against his former team.

"If someone talks shit about one of us or one of our coaches or anybody in the building, we want to have their back," Jets tight end C.J. Uzomah said postgame, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "So this one was for Hack."

Week 5 marked the first time Hackett - whom New York hired as OC this year - faced Sean Payton since the Broncos head coach's controversial offseason comments. Payton, who joined Denver this year to replace Hackett, said during training camp that the Hackett-coached Broncos in 2022 was "one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL." Denver fired Hackett before the end of that campaign with a 4-11 record.

"Even if he wasn't telling us, 'This is personal to me,' you could just look how he carried himself all week, you know what I mean?" Jets corner Sauce Gardner said Sunday. "He had that look on his face, like, man, he really wanted this game. So it meant a lot to get a win for him."

Gardner also took a shot at the Broncos on social media after the contest.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh gave Hackett the game ball after the win.

New York outplayed Denver on both sides of the ball, finishing the matchup with 407 total yards on offense to the Broncos' 308. The Jets also forced three turnovers, including a last-minute Russell Wilson fumble that cornerback Bryce Hall returned 39 yards for a game-sealing touchdown.