The Jets had very high expectations heading into the 2024 season.
Following Aaron Rodgers’ return from his season-ending Achilles, who scored four games last season, many believed the Jets were ready to challenge the Chiefs for a trip to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX.
Those dreams came to an unofficial end on Sunday following the Jets’ latest 28-27 loss to the Colts. After their seventh loss in eight games, the Jets are 3-8 and should lead the standings to even have a chance at making the playoffs at this point.
The Jets’ season likely officially ended when second owner Woody Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh and named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich the interim coach for the remainder of the season. Johnson told reporters after firing Saleh that this was the most talented team he had in his 25 seasons as owner.
However, the Jets haven’t played close to one of the best teams in the league. Outside of a dominant win over the Patriots on September 19, the Jets haven’t played free football this season.
That continued to be the case against a Colts team that reinstated Anthony Richardson under center for the first time in two weeks after he was benched for Joe Flacco. Richardson, who completed 44 percent of his passes in six games before Sunday, looked like a Pro Bowl quarterback against a Jets defense that entered the game rankings in the top 10 in total defense. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 272 yards and scored three touchdowns, including the game-winning four-yard run with 51 seconds remaining.
That was after the Colts offense went 70 yards in six plays and fell behind just 1:55. Ulbrich put his faith in the Jets defense with 2:44 remaining after electing to send in Anders Carlson for a 35-yard field goal on a 4th-and-2 play at the Colts 17-yard line. Although the Jets took a 27-22 lead at that point, it ultimately came back to bite them.
Ulbrich played dual roles as defensive coordinator and head coach of the Jets, and even the players noticed the change in the defensive play.
“The last two games, we haven’t played to our level on defense,” Jets cornerback DJ Reed said. “We gave up on touchdowns, we gave up on explosive plays.
“I can’t really explain what it is. Coach Ulbrich has a lot to do, but he’s an adult and can handle it. It’s just about executing and playing our role.
Since Saleh’s firing, the Jets are 1-5 and their defense is allowing 26.1 points per game in those contests.
“We have to be better,” Ulbrich said. “We have to be better.
“This week off will give me the opportunity to really question myself and take a hard look at everything we do. Not just defensively but everything.
“True strength is shown in those moments when adversity hits and it hits us from a football perspective. This is probably one of the highest levels of adversity we’ve ever faced. This is an opportunity to not let your circumstances define who you are and to show the world who you really are in these difficult times.
It’s not just the defense that has struggled since Saleh’s firing, but offensively the Jets have been stuck in the mud at times and continue to start games slowly. After Saleh was fired, Ulbrich switched offensive players from Nathaniel Hackett to Todd Downing, but the losses continued to pile up.
By halftime, Rodgers had completed just 7 of 16 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. He finished the game 22 of 29 for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Rodgers is not the same player he was with the Packers before the trade with the Jets, after an Achilles injury. His accuracy has declined and he can’t move in the pocket, which was evident when he was sacked by Kwity Paye twice on the Jets’ final drive, including on a 3rd and 7 , which ended the game after the Jets had no timeouts. remaining.
Earlier this week, Rodgers said he wanted to return to the Jets for his 21st season, but at this point it might be wise for the team to move on.
Rodgers, 40, is under contract for $23.5 million next season, but he no longer has guaranteed money on his contract. However, if the Jets decide to move on, they will have a $49 million dead cap hit next season.
The Jets will almost certainly have a new coach next season and likely a new general manager with Joe Douglas in the final months of a six-year contract he signed in 2019. While Rodgers is about to turn 41 n Dec. 2, the new regime might decide it’s best to bring in a younger quarterback for a possible rebuild.
“We put a lot of effort into understanding what the issues are,” a dejected Rodgers said after the game. “It’s just not one person. Sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s someone else, but I felt good after the two minute drive we had.
“We got a turnover, the momentum was building and the crowd was going for it, but unfortunately we didn’t score enough points.”
Without a playoff carrot in front of the Jets, they will have six games to try to end the season on a high note. In 2022, the Jets played significant football in December before losing six straight games that ended their playoff hopes. Last year, Gang Green wasn’t officially eliminated from the playoffs until Dec. 15 after a 30-0 loss to the Dolphins.
Although not officially eliminated, the Jets’ playoff chances go up in smoke before Thanksgiving. A team filled with big names like Rodgers, Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson, Haason Reddick and Breece Hall, it’s unimaginable that the Jets have only three wins in 11 games.
With all the expectations for this team, the 2024 Jets will fall short of the 2000 Washington Team and the 2011 Eagles “Dream Team” in terms of teams that failed to live up to the hype and expectations of the offseason.
“It’s very difficult to understand,” Reed said of the season. “I’m still processing it right now, I’m still processing that last record.
“If we win this game and we beat an AFC team, the percentages are much higher. It’s unfortunate. It’s really hard to understand, but we have the right guys in this locker room to put our arms together and get a win after the bye week.
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