Jets made real progress regardless of suddenly-possible playoff fate
The Jets didn’t play a game over the weekend, and that’s probably a good thing considering their current state (read: a four-game losing streak).
They did, however, have a stellar holiday, thanks to the Bengals, Steelers and Packers, all of whom beat teams the Jets needed to lose to turn up the flame on their flickering playoff hopes.
The Jets went from needing a miracle to get into the playoffs to a team that’s almost in control of its own destiny.
With the Bengals beating the Patriots, and Steelers beating the Raiders on Saturday, and the Packers beating the Dolphins on Sunday, the Jets are now in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010 by winning their final two games, at Seattle and Miami, and the Patriots losing one of their final two.
The Patriots, who defeated the Jets twice this season and own the tiebreaker against them, play the Dolphins at home on Sunday and close the season at Buffalo.
So, you’re saying there’s a chance?
Yes, the path to the playoffs has, indeed, widened for the Jets.
The next step for the Jets is figuring out who’ll start at quarterback Sunday in Seattle. According to an NFL Network report, Mike White is scheduled to have tests on his fractured ribs Monday. If White isn’t medically cleared to play, look for Zach Wilson to start again.
It’s been quite a turn of events since Jets head coach Robert Saleh said on Friday, “It’s not about the playoffs right now.’’
Well, after the events that took place this weekend, that thought should shift. Immediately. Like Sunday in Seattle.
Even if it doesn’t work out, and the Jets can’t cross the finish line with wins in their final two games and get to the playoffs, there’s been a lot to feel good about with this team in 2022.
There wasn’t a betting line on the planet that projected the over/under for Jets wins this season as more than about five.
Remember, this was a team that won four games in 2021, Saleh’s rookie season with a roster bereft of major league talent. And the team before that went 2-14 in 2020, Adam Gase’s final season.
So, the fact that 11 games into this season the Jets had already exceeded their win total from the previous two seasons and were in the thick of a playoff chase has to count for something. Any Jets fan that denies that run wasn’t fun isn’t being honest.
There has been progress — albeit not enough, particularly at the quarterback position. But the fact that Jets have been relevant into Christmas week for something other than how high they’ve positioned themselves in the next draft is a good thing.
“There is still a lot to look forward to with this season,’’ Saleh said Friday. “We’ve done a lot of really, really cool things this year.’’
This is where the conundrum to this Jets season lies. They’ve done enough cool things this season to be a playoff team. But the fact they can still miss the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season even with a weekend of help should rankle Jets fans.
But, as much as this past month stings, even if they fail to reach the playoffs, Jets fans should try to focus on the remarkable 2022 draft class that produced cornerback Sauce Gardner, who was voted into the Pro Bowl and may win Defensive Rookie of the Year, receiver Garrett Wilson, who’s a favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, and running back Breece Hall, who was en route to becoming a big-play force when he injured his knee in Week 7 at Denver.
Hall had 463 rushing yards, a 5.8-yards per carry and four TDs in six-plus games when he got hurt.
Wilson has 71 receptions for 996 yards and four TDs.
Gardner barely has any stats because he’s so good that teams rarely even throw to his side of the field.
Defensively, the Jets’ turnaround from last season to this season cannot be overstated. They were horrible in 2021, ranked last in the league both in most points allowed (504) and most yards allowed (6,670).
The Jets this season have yielded the fifth fewest points in the league (282) and fourth fewest yards allowed (4,899).
So, Saleh is right when he says this team has done some “cool’’ things. The problem is that, with the 7-4 start, it’s difficult to see those things through the recent disappointments.
As good as the Jets have been on defense this season as a whole, it’s difficult not to fixate on that 96-yard drive yieldt ed to the Jaguars on Thursday night or not covering that Lions tight end who had a 51-yard game-winning catch-and-run TD in the final moments the week before.
All of this is completely understandable — particularly from a fan base so starved for a mere playoff berth.
“The most important thing right now,’’ Saleh said, “is finishing strong, which starts with Seattle.’’
