The Jets have not won a season opener since 2018.

Gang Green hoped to change that Sunday afternoon against Lamar Jackson and a tough Baltimore Ravens team.

While they kept it close for a bit, the Jets could not contain Jackson and the Ravens passing attack.

Baltimore rolled past the Jets 24-9 at MetLife Stadium.

Jackson went 17-for-30 for 213 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Ravens receiver Devin Duvernay caught four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Mark Andrews also recorded five catches for 52 yards.

On the other side, the Jets couldn’t get another going offensively with Joe Flacco under center. He completed 37 of 59 passes for 307 yards, a touchdown and an interception. It also didn’t help matters offensively that the Jets were 2-for-14 on third down conversions.

“Offensively, we moved the ball well,” second-year Jets head coach Saleh said. “Five trips into their territory. We missed some kicks, we missed an extra point, and we came away with nine points.

“It is impossible to win when you come up empty-handed like that. Unfortunately, when you have a first down conversion and you fumble and you miss kicks, it’s hard.”

Flacco, 37, didn’t have much time in the pocket as he was sacked four times and pressured consistently throughout the day.

“Obviously, frustrated,” said Flacco, who started in place of the injured Zach Wilson and fell to 0-6 with the Jets. “It wasn’t a good showing for us on offense as we never got into a rhythm.

“You just think it was some things we left out there. We just didn’t execute well enough and stuff that we really didn’t take advantage of. We just never turned the corner on some of the plays that we did have. We had some chunks, I felt like we had some chunks in the first half.”

It didn’t help the cause that starting left tackle Duane Brown was placed on injured reserve Saturday as he will miss at least the season’s first four games. George Fant, who was the team’s right tackle after Brown signed with the Jets, moved over to the left side. Max Mitchell also started at right tackle after being selected in the fourth round of April’s draft.

The Jets’ defense kept the team in the game as they trailed 10-3 at halftime and held the Ravens to 92 yards. However, Gang Green allowed two touchdowns and 182 yards in the second half.

“Defensively, I thought we came in and had a really good plan,” Saleh said. “I thought our guys came in and played with a lot of juice and energy.

“We gave up three explosive plays, unfortunately, two of them on third down that resulted in touchdowns and one of them was that 55-yard explosive play.

“Overall from the defense, we did a really good job going blow for blow with those dudes. I have a lot of respect for Lamar and their offense.”

Following punts by both sides on the game’s first two possessions, the Jets seemed like they were able to get something going offensive after a 24-yard pass to Elijah Moore.

But two plays later, Ravens safety Marcus Williams picked off Flacco at the Jets’ 46-yard-line and returned it to the 13-yard-line. That eventually registered the game’s first points as the Ravens took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Jets had an opportunity to tie the game in the second quarter as Flacco and Michael Carter helped drive the team down into Ravens territory. But kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 45-yarder, giving Baltimore a short field as it started on its 38.

Two plays after a Lamarcus Joyner pass interference call, Jackson found Duvernay for a 25-yard touchdown which increased the Ravens lead to 10-0.

The Jets finally got on the board late in the second quarter as Zuerlein made his second 45-yard field goal attempt that made the score 10-3 at halftime.

After punts by both teams to begin the second half, the Ravens got excellent field position on the Jets’ 44-yard line because of a 20-yard punt by Braden Mann. That allowed the Ravens to drive down the field in six plays resulting in another Duvernay touchdown reception from Jackson, this time for 17 yards that made the score 24-3.

Later in the third quarter, Jackson threw his third TD pass to Bateman, this time for 55 yards, which increased their lead to 24-3.

“To say it is disappointing would be a discredit to all the good things that we did today,” Michael Carter II said. “Obviously, we want some things back, but they have a good quarterback.

“We were not that outmatched as we have a special team too and super talented. We just have to play more complementary football, I think that’s what it comes down to.”

With a minute left in the game, the Jets finally got into the end zone as Flacco completed a three-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Conklin, but Zuerlein missed the extra point.

WEEK 2

The Jets will travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns in their home opener, and Baltimore will host the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium.

()