Controversial holding penalty aids Chiefs against resilient Zach Wilson, Jets

Taylor Swift was there. So, too, were Sophie Turner, Hugh Jackman, Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was also in attendance for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon.

Wilson took the spotlight early, but the referees got the last solo with a controversial holding penalty on Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner on a third-and-20 with 4:29 remaining.

Gardner made minimal contact with Marquez Valdes-Scantling but the ticky-tack foul gave Kansas City a fresh set of downs. New York never got the ball back as the Chiefs held on for a 23-20 win. 

Even in defeat, Wilson played better than he ever has in the NFL, outplaying two-time league MVP Patrick Mahomes.

He was 28-of-39 for 245 yards and two touchdowns while Mahomes finished 18-of-30 for 203 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

As ESPN's Mike Greenberg put it, Sunday night was the rare instance where a moral victory might be worth something.

The Jets were given little chance of beating the Chiefs entering the game and after falling in an early 17-0 hole, appeared ready to confirm everyone's worst beliefs about them, Wilson in particular.

He flipped the script, and outside of a late fumble on a mishandled snap, gave the Jets a glimmer of hope.

New York (1-3) is already in an early hole, but for the first time with Wilson at quarterback, he's given the Jets reason to believe he can help them climb out of it.