I can’t believe I’m even saying such a statement. With the New York Jets defeating Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, this Jets team looks more and more like a playoff team with every week they play.
I would have bet everything I own prior to the start of the season if I was given a bet on whether the Jets would not make the playoffs. The word ‘playoffs’ and the New York Jets don’t even belong in the same sentence, let alone the Jets qualifying for it.
When even was the Jets last playoff appearance? 100 years ago? Well, to be more precise, it was actually 2011 season when the Jets fluked through to the AFC Championship game under the snack legend Rex Ryan and the butt fumble king, Mark Sanchez, at QB.
Yup, the Jets actually made a championship game with a quarterback not named Joe Namath.
Anyway, it seems the Jets have finally gotten their act together and assembled a real playoff challenger…maybe.
To be honest, all of the Jets success this season has been down to two factors: Breece Hall and their defense.
First, I’ll address Breece Hall. Simply put, the rookie running back has come out of nowhere and has exploded these last three weeks, The 2nd-round pick has been fantastic for New York as he’s carried the offense during wins over the Cleveland Browns, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Miami Dolphins, and the Green Bay Packers.
Yeah, the Jets (well, more like Breece Hall) rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown at Lambeau Field. Have we all just been taken back in time to 1973?
The rookie out of Iowa State may have started off the year slow, but he’s accumulated 329 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns in the Jets four wins this season. They aren’t godly stats for a regular team, but this is the Jets we’re talking about. They shouldn’t even have stats remotely as good as those.
As for their second factor, their defense, it has been just as impressive as Hall.
Bear with me: the New York Jets held AARON RODGERS to only ten points AT LAMBEAU FIELD. Do you need me to repeat that for you? THE NEW YORK JETS HELD AARON RODGERS TO ONLY TEN POINTS AT LAMBEAU FIELD!!!
We really have entered one of the MCU’s multiverses. But it gets even crazier than that.
The Jets defense have not allowed more than 30 points to any opponent all season long, even though they have faced off against the Packers, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Miami Dolphins, the Cleveland Browns (which was the team that reached 30 on them), and the Baltimore Ravens.
In other words, the Jets have faced off against two former MVPs (Rodgers and Lamar Jackson) and the reigning AFC Champion (Cincinnati Bengals) and have held their ground.
Robert Salah has revolutionized this defense!
Don’t believe me? Here’s a few stats after last weekend: the Jets defense, led by DE Quinnen Williams, LB CJ Mosely, LB Kwon Alexander, and S Jordan Whitehead, is currently 9th best in the NFL with total yards allowed (313.2/g), 13th best in total passing yards allowed (1,247), 12th best in average passing yards allowed per game (207.8), 13th best in total running yards allowed (632) and12th best in average running yards allowed per game (105.3).
Again, these aren’t amazing statistics, but it’s still the New York Jets.
So, have I convinced you that this team is a playoff team yet? No? Good, because I don’t believe they are either.
And I attribute this down to one reason: Zach Wilson.
Simply put, he’s been below average during the Jets improbably winning streak. In their last three wins (Packers, Dolphins, Steelers), Zach Wilson has thrown for 572 yards (avg.: 190 yards/game), 1 touchdown pass, and 2 interceptions.
To put these numbers in context, Bailey Zappe, the Patriots 3rd-string quarterback, has thrown for 596 yards (avg.: 199 yards/game), 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception during his improbably, 3-game starting streak.
Remember, Zach Wilson was drafted 2nd overall by the Jets in 2021, while Bailey Zappe was drafted 137th overall in 2022. Not only does Wilson (supposedly) have a huge talent advantage over Zappe, given their draft choice selection disparity, but also has a whole year of experience being a starting NFL quarterback over the Pats QB too.
What am I saying? Well, I don’t think Zach Wilson is developing into being the guy that will lead the Jets to the promise land. Sure, Green Bay is a tough opponent and Lameua Field is an intimidating place, but so is Cleveland and its defense. Having Myles Garrett coming after you on every play is not easy, which is why Bailey Zappe’s confidence and composure in the pocket to dominate that game was so impressive.
In my opinion, he reads and understands the game far better than Wilson does at this stage of both of their, respective, careers.
Now, I’m not writing Wilson off as a bust yet, but he is yet to win a game for the Jets this season with his play, unlike Bailey Zappe with New England. Until he does that, I’m going to keep my bet that the Jets won’t be making the playoffs anytime soon.
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