Following Sunday’s 20-12 loss to the Payments, Jets coach Robert Saleh delivered a stern message to reporters.
“We’re going to see these guys once more.”
Now it’s time for Gang Inexperienced to show it on the sphere throughout its ultimate 4 video games of the season. Saleh feels just like the Jets can go toe to toe with a number of the greatest groups within the NFL after shedding to each the Vikings and the Payments the final two weeks. Now we’re about to search out out if they honestly can.
Now it’s crunch time for the Jets as their playoff lives are at stake through the ultimate 4 weeks of the season. Presently, they’re 7-6 however discover themselves on the skin the ultimate three wildcard spots within the AFC because the Jets are in ninth place within the convention.
Gang Inexperienced was 6-3 throughout its bye week, however the workforce has misplaced three of its final 4 video games. Wins by the Patriots and Chargers final weekend additionally didn’t assist the Jets, as they fell from the seventh spot within the AFC to “within the hunt class” due to tiebreakers.
“On the finish of the day, we nonetheless management our personal future,” Saleh stated on ESPN New York Monday. “If we simply deal with ours, give attention to that and discover methods to win these video games, then it doesn’t matter what occurs we shall be in.
“The one time it’s value rooting for an additional workforce is if you need assistance. In any other case, give attention to what you should deal with and don’t depend on different individuals to do your job. Do your job, deal with what you should deal with and the remaining will fall into place.”
One space that has improved over the last three weeks is the quarterback place. Mike White has given the Jets possibilities to win late in video games after taking on for Zach Wilson, who was benched final month. However the workforce hasn’t gotten over the hump in contests towards the Vikings and the Payments at house.
White has thrown for 952 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in three begins. If he’s wholesome sufficient to play after going to the hospital due to a rib harm, White ought to proceed to be the Jets beginning quarterback.
Nonetheless, the Jets offense has struggled to get factors on the board regardless of who’s been behind middle this 12 months. Towards the Payments, Gang Inexperienced discovered the tip zone simply as soon as because the workforce scored 12 factors your entire sport as White threw 44 passes with out throwing a landing.
The reality is, the Jets offense hasn’t been the identical since rookie working Breece Corridor was misplaced for the season because of a torn ACL he suffered towards the Broncos on Oct. 23. Since that point, the Jets have misplaced 4 of six video games as their offense has sputtered averaging 17.5 factors per sport.
As elite because the Jets’ protection has been all year long, it’s onerous to beat any workforce scoring lower than 20 factors per sport.
“It begins in apply, possibly we simply received to have that mindset of giving somewhat extra,” White stated. “Simply no matter it’s, simply hold discovering one other gear, one other one thing to have the ability to repair these points as a result of it’s actually onerous to play soccer that means if you aren’t beginning quick it’s onerous to beat as an offense.”
Though the NFL postseason begins on Jan. 14, it can start in earnest this weekend for the Jets. They may host the Lions, who, subsequent to the Eagles, is arguably the most popular workforce within the league, profitable 5 of their final six video games to leap again into the playoff race within the NFC. Then the Jets will host the Jaguars on Dec. 22, who defeated the Ravens and Titans in current weeks.
Gang Inexperienced will then hit the highway as it can play at Seattle and Miami to finish the common season. Each the Seahawks and the Dolphins are additionally competing for a spot within the playoffs.
If the Jets are going to snap the longest postseason drought within the NFL (2010) this 12 months, they’re going to earn it as their remaining opponents all have a mixed .500 profitable share. That’s the seventh hardest within the NFL through the season’s ultimate 4 weeks.
A loss towards the Lions and or Jaguars, it is going to be troublesome for the Jets to make the playoffs contemplating they lose tiebreakers towards each the Patriots and Chargers.
“December soccer is about grit, it’s about pressure, it’s about 60%, identical issues we’ve all the time talked about and I simply consider this workforce has that mindset,” Saleh stated. “If you happen to might deliver that each single day and for those who can deliver that to each sport, you’re going to present your self an opportunity, particularly within the fourth quarter.
“We’ve, what’s cool about that is we’ve received 4 playoff video games as a result of each workforce we’re enjoying is combating for a playoff spot, even Jacksonville is searching for some assist. So, each sport has main playoff implications. That is an superior expertise for our group and it’s going to be, it simply makes issues extra rewarding, particularly if you will get it performed.”
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