If the season ended in the present day, the Jets could be the fifth seed within the AFC.
Too unhealthy it doesn’t as a result of Gang Green has been one of many extra stunning groups within the NFL. Robert Saleh’s Jets are 6-3 heading into their Week 10 bye week and a half-game again of the Bills for the highest spot within the AFC East.
After six consecutive shedding seasons, Jets followers are used to speaking in regards to the upcoming NFL Draft and free company throughout this time of the 12 months. Saleh has followers believing the staff might finish the longest energetic postseason drought (11 seasons) within the NFL, but in addition the gamers as nicely.
“Obviously, before the season, nobody knew what the team would look like,” Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley mentioned. “Just seeing how everybody involves work day by day and the way we’ve been getting ready this season thus far.
“This bye week goes to be actually massive for us to get wholesome, to get mentally proper, to get bodily proper. Have just a little time to step away, see household. But once we come again, we acquired eight superb video games to play and it may well make or break our season.
“We are really going to see where we really stand and where we are mentally as a team collectively when we come back from the bye.”
With eight video games remaining within the season, it’s time to have a look at the Jets’ three items and predict what’s forward for the second half of the season.
OFFENSE
The offense has been a little bit of a curler coaster this 12 months. Gang Green started the season with Joe Flacco beneath middle as Zach Wilson injured his knee throughout the staff’s preseason opener towards the Eagles. The Green and White began the 12 months 1-2 earlier than Wilson returned in Week 4 towards the Steelers.
Since then, the Jets are 5-1 with Wilson at quarterback, however they haven’t gained in essentially the most typical manner. The Jets have relied on their dashing assault to assist transfer the ball. Rookie Breece Hall appeared headed to the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award earlier than tearing his ACL within the Oct. 23 victory towards the Broncos.
The Jets did commerce for Jaguars operating again James Robinson forward of the commerce deadline and he performed an enormous issue within the staff’s 20-17 victory towards the Bills final Sunday. Robinson rushed for 48 yards on 13 carries and in addition caught a landing move. He created a pleasant one-two punch with Michael Carter, who ran for 76 yards and a TD on 12 carries.
If the Jets are going to get into the playoffs, they might want to have performances from Wilson like they acquired from the second-year professional towards the Bills. Per week after passing for 355 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, Wilson accomplished 18 of 25 passes for 154 yards, one TD and no interceptions. He additionally accomplished a career-high 72% of his passes.
In six video games, Wilson has thrown for 1,202 yards, 4 touchdowns and 5 INTs.
The Jets coaches and gamers proceed to imagine Wilson is the quarterback of the long run. He lastly confirmed potential and maturity towards one of the best protection within the NFL. If he continues to get higher and extra constant as a passer, the Jets could have a good chance of creating the playoffs.
Grade: C
DEFENSE
What are you able to say about Jeff Ulbrich’s unit that hasn’t already been mentioned? A 12 months after ending thirty second within the league in yards and factors per recreation, the Jets are statistically top-of-the-line defenses within the league.
Gang Green ranks seventh in yards allowed (312.0) and factors allowed per recreation (19.6). The vital distinction is the play of Quinnen Williams and the additions of Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and D.J. Reed to the secondary.
Williams has been the Jets’ first half MVP as he has 33 tackles, seven sacks and 6 tackles for loss. In a league with the likes of Aaron Donald and Chris Jones, Williams has been one of the best defensive deal with this season and a powerful candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. It’s onerous to think about the place the Jets could be with out Williams.
Adding Gardner and Reed has performed a ton for the protection. According to Pro Football Focus, the duo has top-five grades amongst cornerbacks who’ve taken 80% of snaps this season. Gardner ranks No. 1 with an 87.8 grade and Reed has an 80 grade, ok for No. 4.
As a rookie, Gardner has been one of the best cornerback in soccer, as he has 14 move defenses and two interceptions in 5 video games. Reed additionally has seven move defenses and an interception.
Linebacker C.J. Mosley can also be having a Pro Bowl season, as he’s second within the NFL in tackles with 88 and a sack. Gang Green’s protection is nice sufficient to maintain them in each recreation and it has up till this level.
Grade: A
SPECIAL TEAMS
Gang Green’s particular groups unit has been hit and miss at instances this 12 months. Kicker Greg Zuerlein has made 16 of 19 subject targets this season (84.2, which is sixteenth within the NFL).
There have been instances Zuerlein has left factors on the board, like in losses towards the Ravens and Patriots. Overall, Zuerlein has been strong.
Braden Mann ranks seventeenth within the league in punting common (47.7) and twelfth in internet punting (42.5). When it involves the return recreation, the Jets are averaging 21.9 (14th) yards per kick return and 12.9 yards per punt return (fifth).
Overall, the particular groups have been good this 12 months, as they’ve additionally recovered an onside kick, blocked a subject aim and transformed a number of pretend punts.
Grade: B
TALKING PLAYOFFS IN SECOND HALF?
Naysayers mentioned the Jets couldn’t beat a high quarterback, however they made Bills star Josh Allen seem like a below-average participant throughout their 20-17 victory final Sunday. Folks have additionally mentioned the Jets have caught plenty of breaks alongside the way in which, however what staff doesn’t in some unspecified time in the future?
The truth of the matter is the Jets are an improved staff and one which not solely has a legit shot at making the playoffs however at difficult for the AFC East division crown. Plenty of speaking heads thought the Jets could be one of many league’s worst groups, however they proceed to show individuals mistaken each week.
Of course, Wilson’s play will should be extra constant for that to occur. The Jets ought to get more healthy on the offensive line as tackles Max Mitchell and George Fant have but to be activated from injured reserve.
Saleh mentioned he needed the Jets to play significant video games in December and January and it seems to be like that can occur. How far this younger Jets can go stays to be seen, however they’re constructing one thing in Florham Park.
No one noticed 6-3 coming as Saleh and the Jets look to proceed taking receipts on all the doubts throughout the second half of the season.
Overall Grade: A-
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Source: www.bostonherald.com