The Jets return to the field Sunday for the first time in two weeks and the first time since owner Woody Johnson fired general manager Joe Douglas.
The team announced last week that it had begun the process of finding a new general manager and head coach by hiring the 33rd team, led by Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman.
It seems that owners are looking towards 2025.
But there are still six games left this season.
Players and coaches must now find a way to stay motivated at 3-8, with the playoffs still mathematically, but not realistically, possible.
It starts with a visit from the Seahawks, who are 6-5 and in first place in the NFC West.
It feels like old friend Geno Smith and the Seahawks have everything to play for while the Jets are just playing the part.
But they insisted this week that the locker room is still motivated.
“I haven’t felt any human being, any individual on this team stray from their commitment and preparation at the highest level,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “The energy has been good. The detail was good. The approach was incredible, but it’s amazing that I felt this way all this time. The process was correct. The results were not good.
“It’s the week.”
The Jets have lost seven of their last eight games during this disappointing season – including a heartbreaker in the final minute against the Colts two weeks ago before the bye week.
They spent this free time searching for answers about what went wrong.
The Jets have lost five straight games to the Seahawks, with their last win against Seattle coming in 2004.
“Look, I mean, when you win, everything feels better, so if we win this one, things will feel better, and with the next one, things will feel better. But that’s the hardest part at this point in the season, as things have gotten worse over the last few weeks,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “It depends on the motivation of the guys, you can inspire them, [Ulbrich] can put a great quote, or give us a good message, or we can have a good discussion Saturday night, but ultimately it comes down to guys being motivated individually and then just wanting to play for something bigger than them, and I hope we all do that.
