Maybe this could be 2009 all over again
After being left for dead, the New York Jets aren’t down yet.
In fact, they’re alive and well.
In the midst of a demoralizing four-game losing streak in which the Jets have seen their magical season evaporate in smoke, New York is within punching distance of the postseason.
Following losses by the Raiders, Patriots, and Dolphins in Week 16, the Jets’ road to redemption is surprisingly clear, if daunting: win your next two games against Seattle and Miami, hope that New England loses to Miami and/or Buffalo, and you’re in.
Alternatively, if the Jets win out and the Chargers lose both conference games (Indianapolis and Denver), the Jets could still sneak in.
FiveThirtyEight's projection now gives the Jets a 92% chance of making the playoffs if they finish 2-0.
Entered yesterday at 53%… they've picked up a 39% boost across two days.
What a Christmas weekend.
— Michael Nania 🧀 (@Michael_Nania) December 25, 2022
Not since 2009 have the Jets gotten this kind of help on the march to deep January football. That year, they grabbed the bull by the horns with a lot of help from Indianapolis (benching Peyton Manning in favor of Curtis Painter) and Cincinnati. In 2015, the Jets just had to win their last game against their former head coach in Buffalo, but a three-pick dud from Ryan Fitzpatrick killed the five-game winning streak and the team’s playoff hopes.
This is what you call help. This is what you call luck.
We are in 88% territory.
The Jets have lost 4 straight, yes, but:
The Dolphins have lost 4 straight
The Patriots have lost 4 out of 5Welcome to the AFC East playoff race! https://t.co/3LPSZ6STze
— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) December 25, 2022
At this point, if the Jets don’t make the playoffs, they likely have no one but themselves to blame. After squandering their best opportunities against teams that they should have beaten, this team is somehow still kicking. If you can’t get motivated for these last two games, you don’t belong playing in the NFL (ahem, Laken Tomlinson).
Obviously, the quarterback situation is a hindrance. If Mike White cannot play, the Jets’ chances against Seattle shrink from fair to slim. The offensive line is killing any hope that the run game can cover for Zach Wilson‘s ineptitude.
Of course, New England could win their final two games, the Chargers could win a conference game, and the two teams could kick the Jets out. However, this is the same Patriots team that has gone into an aforementioned funk of its own. I’d trust Mike White against Seattle and Miami more quickly than Mac Jones against Miami and Buffalo.
The Chargers losing to the Colts and Broncos is a longer shot, which means that the Jets are big Dolphins fans against New England in Week 17 (assuming that they can take care of their own business). Another sneaky team to root for is Kansas City against Denver; this would ensure that Buffalo does not lock up the No. 1 seed in the AFC before Week 18, which could lead them to rest their starters against New England in the season finale.
This is the best holiday gift the Jets have received in over a decade. It’s time for them to take advantage of it.
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The last gasp…Hopefully we can score some points
Aftr reading you article about LaFleur’s play calling I wondered: why don’t you come up with a metricfor play calling like your colleague has for throws? We can’t see the field during a game so we can’t judge throws in real time, but EVERY fan on a barstool or couch has an opinion about play calling, which is to say, an article with an objective metric would be very popular and, I have no doubt, extremely insightful given your extensive knowledge of the game.
Thank you for the idea! That is likely a project for the offseason, but it’s an intriguing one.
Great news. Now all they need is to get Mike White back and slow down the run defense with a few completed passes.
Well, Part I came to pass! Mike White will start Sunday.
This is great but the Jets are not going to win out unless the offensive line decides to blosck for the run and the pass. I don’t care if the QB is the second coming of Johnny Unitas without a credible running game, the Jets can’t win. That’s what’s happened the last few games, no rushing attack. With no rush game there is no play action pass game, there’s no showing down the pass rush and there is no way to win.
I agree 100%. Stay tuned for my thoughts on the matter.