execution.
During a five-game losing streak that finally mercifully ended with a win over the Texans on Thursday, the Jets continued their run to get into the playoff conversation.
Here’s the thing about running: You can say whatever you want about them. But to run, you have to win the game. One at a time. Once you string together a few wins, you can get away with it.
The Jets haven’t proven to be worth the run to date. Of course it may change. However, until further notice, we are in wait-and-see mode.
The Jets, who few thought they would lose against the lowly Patriots in New England two weeks ago, won a game many did not believe they would. 6-2 Texas on Thursday night when the season was just around the corner at 2-6.
After a chaotic first half, the final 30 minutes of Houston’s game looked as good as they had all season.
therefore… There is hope.
Now: Reset.
The Jets have a weekend off following their win over Houston, a quick bye, and return to the field for the first time on Wednesday to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals in Arizona.
The Cardinals would have been considered a relatively easy win in what was assumed to be a game based on the franchise’s recent history of losing.
But the Cardinals are 5-4, leading the NFC West, and it doesn’t look like the Jets are rolling their fingers down the glass as they try to put together the run they’ve been talking about.
The best thing the Jets can do now is forget about all the running and win the game on Sunday.
Because a win against the Cardinals would put them at 4-6 and put them in the conversation as a potential AFC wild card playoff team.
Speaking on the weekly pay-per-view “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked about the run and looked at the big picture.
“I think it should be,” Rogers said. “With this league and the one-game-at-a-time, one-day-at-a-time cliche that they always say, human nature is to focus on what’s at hand this week, but also to know what’s ahead. .”
This is a fair and honest statement from Rodgers, but it is a precarious situation coming from a team that has posted back-to-back wins over the Titans (2-6) and Patriots (2-7) this season.
The trick for the Jets this week will be replicating the form they had in the second half against the Texans. Scored three touchdowns on offense and tormented Houston’s offense with a ferocious pass rush.
Rodgers was 15 of 18 for 179 yards and three touchdowns in that perfect second half. The defense held Texas quarterback CJ Stroud to 11 of 30 shooting and sacked him eight times in the game.
“We told you [last] This week — we need one win to get this thing started and we got it,” Jets coach Morgan Moses said this week. “Now it’s up to us to get the momentum going.”
Weeks 9 and 10 are a little early to look at the scoreboard, but the Jets had a great Sunday as they got some rest with a mini bye with fellow AFC wild card contenders Indianapolis (4-5) and Denver (4-5). Yes. 5-4) Defeat.
This week will provide the Jets with more potential good news about their contenders for a wild card spot, with the Bengals (4-5) playing the 6-3 Ravens, the Colts playing the 7-2 Bills and the Broncos playing 8. You can. -0 Chief.
All three of these teams are underdogs in their respective games. All three losses would be very beneficial to the Jets’ cause, but only if they take care of their own business and beat the Cardinals.
To do that, they need to perform well against Houston and strengthen their defense against the Cardinals’ rushing team.
High-energy linebacker Quincy Williams said this week’s performance against Houston was “a glimpse of what’s to come” for the Jets.
Please show us. Win your next game. Try making two in a row.
Then we can talk about execution.
