Close losses to the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, and Buffalo Bills brought the New York Jets to the brink of disaster. Did their 37-15 annihilation at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers finish the job?
Mathematically speaking, the Jets are estimated to have somewhere between a 32% chance (based on betting odds) and a 47% chance (per ESPN analytics) to make the playoffs, although the latter number is overly generous.
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Based on the product they have placed on the field thus far, though, is there any reason to believe they can turn it around?
That is what we discussed on the newest episode of The Score Boord Podcast.
Jets fans are a hardy bunch, having survived decades of misery and despair. But the inflection point of the season, the point when the realization dawns that the playoff dream is once again over, is a particularly difficult time to navigate.
Not that the Jets are quite there yet. A decisive win against New England would likely spark a modicum of optimism. The Jets must go 7-3 to finish 9-8 and have a chance at a playoff berth. A 32% chance to make the playoffs isn’t nothing.
Mets-Jets fans out there will note that there could be a Grimace comeback in the Jets, too — a team that, at least on paper, has far more talent than the scrappy Mets did this season.
There is one thing those Mets had that these Jets do not: heart. But it sure did not seem that way when Jorge López threw his glove into the stands and called the Mets the worst team in the whole MLB.
Maybe the Jets can find their heart, too.
Some of the topics we addressed in the episode:
- Who is to blame for the Jets’ 2-5 start
- Whether it is realistic to believe they can still make the playoffs
- Key lineup changes they should make to reflect their current reality
- How and to what extent Woody Johnson’s ownership influences the Jets’ constant futility
- The Jets’ underachieving stars
- Why this season’s woes make the pain of being associated with the Jets particularly acute
You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts.
