The Jets pulled off a stunner on Sunday, knocking off the first-place Saints, 26-20, at MetLife Stadium. Now, they head into their bye week at 5-4. Here are the winners and losers from the game:
Winners
CHRIS IVORY: You could see this one coming. Ivory facing his former team, which struggles against the run, had all the makings of a big day for the big back. Ivory delivered, rushing for a season-high 139 yards on 18 carries and scoring a touchdown. Ivory’s run of 52 yards when the Jets were backed up on their own 2 was a huge play in the game and set up a Nick Folk field goal. Ivory battled hamstring issues early this season, but looks 100 percent now. He could be a big weapon down the stretch.
QUINTON COPLES: It has been a quiet sophomore season for Coples, who broke his ankle in the preseason and missed the first few games. Coples showed up Sunday, though, and delivered the kind of performance the Jets expected when they took him with the No. 16 pick last year. Coples pressured Drew Brees, hitting him three times and getting in his face all day. He also made a huge stop on fourth-and-inches when he stopped the Saints’ ill-advised end-around. If the Jets can get this from Coples consistently, watch out, an already intimidating defensive line will be that much tougher.
JOHN IDZIK: The general manager has done a great job of finding pieces to plug in on this team, and that was on display Sunday. Tight end Zach Sudfeld and wide receivers David Nelson, Greg Salas and Josh Cribbs all had key plays in the win. None of those players were on the roster when the season began. Idzik picked them off the scrap heap, and it looks like he found a few keepers. Idzik also gets credit for the Ivory trade, which paid dividends Sunday. Overall, the GM deserves a ton of credit for putting together this surprise 5-4 team.
Losers
STEPHEN HILL: So the Jets were missing Santonio Holmes, Kellen Winslow, Jeff Cumberland and then lost Jeremy Kerley early in the game … and Hill still had no catches and just one target. Hill has been missing in action since his big game against the Bills in Week 3. At some point, he has to show signs of improvement. Can he just not get open? Does Geno Smith not like throwing to him? Someone has to give some answers about why last year’s second-round pick is not producing.
KONRAD REULAND: The backup tight end played just 10 snaps in the game despite the team being without Winslow and Cumberland. Sudfled has passed him on the depth chart, though he’s only been here for a month. Reuland can’t feel too secure about his roster spot when Winslow and Cumberland return.
THOSE OF US WHO PREDICTED 4-12: OK. I’ll take my lumps. I picked the Jets to finish 4-12 this season along with many others. They won their fifth game Sunday. They are way better than I ever thought they’d be and look like they could finish with 8-10 wins. Marty Mornhinweg has done a tremendous job of making something of the Jets offense despite not having many household names. Rex Ryan has his defense playing at a high level despite having seven new starters. I’m glad I just made the prediction in the newspaper and not in Vegas.