Even After Ugly Stretch, Things Look Good for Jets

It all depends on how you look at things.

If you’re a glass-half-full type, you’d probably note that, just nine games into the season, the Jets have already won more games than they did in all of 2014, and are very much in the hunt for an AFC Wild Card spot, with five very winnable games ahead of them before the Pats come to town just after Christmas.

If you’re glass is half-empty, you’d likely mention that, after a very impressive start, the Jets have been plain awful over three weeks, with only the fact that they were playing the Jaguars preventing three straight defeats. And, of course, if they continue to play this way, they’ve got about as good a shot at the playoffs as the Bengals do of going undefeated (yes, I know, Cincy lost a few days ago).

Well, my glass is now fully empty, because I drank its contents while writing this. But I’m an optimist by nature -- which is the only thing that’s kept me semi-sane after more than three decades of watching Jets football -- and I think things are looking good for Gang Green.

No doubt, after putting in a solid effort vs. New England in late October, the Jets have fallen off a cliff. Ten-year veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick is making rookie mistakes. Chris Ivory was so bad for a stretch that New York fans were longing for a return of Chris Johnson, who seemed to run on eggshells last year (by the way, a revitalized CJ performed exceptionally well while playing in Arizona in 2015). The defense, which was so formidable earlier in the season, has apparently decided that tackling isn’t an integral part of the job. Oh yeah, and special teams isn’t anything to text home about, either.

But, after all that, the Jets are still right in the thick of the postseason race. Fitzpatrick, who should be OK for Sunday’s game in Houston following a 10-day layoff, has been very good even as the rest of the team slipped, although he had a rough night last Thursday vs. Buffalo. In that debacle, Ivory again shone, running like his old self in the second half. As for the Jets D, well, there’s simply too much talent for the unit to be as ineffective as it’s been in recent weeks.

Still feeling half-empty? Fill up on this: Houston, Miami, the Giants, Tennessee and Dallas. The Jets should do just that against their next five opponents. Win four of those, and playoffs are a very good bet.

Not too long ago, the Jets looked like an elite team. Then, they looked terrible. Now, they look like a 5-4 team with a decent chance to win 10 games. However you look at things, that’s gotta look pretty good. 

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