The Jets stunned the previously undefeated Eagles, 20-14, on Sunday to improve to 3-3 this season.
Here are some thoughts and observations from the game:
1. The Jets have to be thrilled to get to the bye week at 3-3. That would have been acceptable if Aaron Rodgers was the quarterback. With Zach Wilson playing, it is much better than anyone could have expected.
The Jets faced the two teams that played in last year’s Super Bowl, as well as the Bills and Cowboys, who are both contenders to make the Super Bowl this year.
On paper, it looks like the Jets are set up for a nice run post-bye when the schedule lightens up, but the Jets need to remember what happened last year.
The Jets also had a big win before the bye week last year when they toppled the Bills at home to improve to 6-3. It felt like the playoffs were a certainty and the Jets would win at least four of their last eight games to win 10 games and make the playoffs. Instead, they went 1-7 after the bye, completely collapsing.
There are similarities this year to last year. The offense is again struggling and the defense is carrying the team. I do think this year’s defense is better than last year’s. Some of last year’s success was based on playing backup quarterbacks. This year’s Jets are beating some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
The Jets also have a healthy Breece Hall this year, which makes a huge difference. Still, the Jets know that winning the way they did Sunday is not sustainable. The offense is going to need to be able to produce points and the Jets are going to have to be able to get more than 10 points off of four turnovers. They need to improve in the red zone and on third down.
Still, the Jets have to feel good about being 3-3 without playing a complete game yet. If this offense ever does click, the Jets could be a very tough team to beat.
2. The win over the Eagles proves the Jets can beat anyone. They have two quality wins over the Bills and Eagles and a quality close loss to the Chiefs.
Looking at the remaining schedule, you can make a case for the Jets beating any of their opponents. The flip side is you can also make a case for them losing to any of their opponents.
That is where the Jets are now, firmly in the middle of the NFL with the majority of the league. The Dolphins (twice) and Bills are their toughest remaining opponents, but they are both beatable. The weakest opponent on the schedule is shockingly the Patriots, but the Jets have been unable to beat New England since 2015, so is anyone counting that as a definite Jets win?
Of the remaining opponents, the Giants and Patriots are 1-5, the Dolphins are 5-1 and the Bills are 4-2. Everyone else has either three or two wins, meaning they are a similar team to the Jets and those games should be toss ups.
The Jets have kept their playoff hopes alive with wins in the last two weeks and watching how the final 11 games play out will be fun.
3. One of the best developments for the Jets this season has been the emergence of edge rusher Bryce Huff. The coaches have always seen a lot of potential in Huff but he was never on the field enough to have a huge impact. The Jets felt he was a liability against the run in previous years. That has changed this year and Huff’s snap count is going up each week.
On Sunday, he had nine pressures and 1 1/s sacks against Jalen Hurts. He was in the backfield all day long.
Huff is becoming a premier edge rusher in the NFL. He is eighth in the NFL with 26 quarterback pressures this season, per PFF. The players in front of him are Aidan Hutchinson, Maxx Crosby, Micah Parsons, George Karlaftis, Chase Young, Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt. All of them have at least 40 more pass rush snaps than Huff.
On a defense loaded with first-round picks, Huff, an undrafted free agent, has emerged as one of the top players.
4. I have been skeptical about the idea that Aaron Rodgers can return this season. It just feels crazy on so many levels. No one has ever gotten back that quick. He is about to turn 40. Why would the Jets risk him reinjuring it and possibly hurting their chances next year? If they are in position to make the playoffs, do they really want to bench Zach Wilson?
But after watching Rodgers throw on the field during pregame on Sunday, I’m starting to believe it is going to happen. He was not putting a lot on his throws, but he was stepping onto his left foot, the one that is connected to his surgically repaired Achilles. He is walking without crutches already. It’s only been a month since surgery. This is crazy.
Rodgers is obviously a physical freak. You don’t play quarterback like he does and for this long without being an athletic freak. Rodgers is also open to all sorts of new ideas, so he is probably trying every medical avenue he can find to get back.
Rodgers is also a very confident person, who seems to be able to achieve what he sets his mind to. The Jets need to stay afloat and see if Rodgers can come riding in in December to give them a jolt.
It seems crazy, but so was the idea he’d be throwing a football one month after surgery.
REVEALING STAT: The Jets score by quarters right now is amazing with their slow starts and hot finishes. They have been outscored 44-5 in first quarters this year and 44-40 in second quarters.
But they have outscored opponents 24-9 in third quarters and 38-22 in the fourth quarter.
SURPRISING SNAP COUNT: Tae Hayes, who was elevated off the practice squad Saturday, played 13 snaps at cornerback. With Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed both out, the expectation was Craig James and Bryce Hall would take their reps. But the Jets used Hayes primarily on third down, indicating they believed more in his man-to-man coverage skills. The Jets usually play man on third down.
GAME BALL: Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich gets this one. He came up with a great game plan against the Eagles and he was missing his starting cornerbacks. Ulbrich does a fantastic job and should get consideration as a head coach candidate.
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