It was somewhat surprising that the Jets left Gillette Stadium late Sunday night with mixed emotions. Players spoke of frustration, of shock, at losing three consecutive games, all against quality A.F.C.
opponents. Yet they also sounded much more encouraged than in weeks past, happier certainly than after the debacles in Oakland and Baltimore.
“It’s a shame,” Matt Slauson said, “because our team did get better this week. Still, too many mistakes made.”
Slauson wondered why the Jets have lost their aura of confidence on the road, where they went 15-7 the last two seasons, but perhaps his general optimism reflected the feelings of their coach, Rex Ryan, who told his players that a turnaround was imminent, that he saw evidence of improvement. This is the Jets’ third three-game skid under Ryan, and, as he is quick to mention, they still reached the playoffs in 2009, when it happened twice.
The Jets’ staggering offense – 151 yards through three quarters against the N.F.L.’s worst defense? – presents potential for discord, and steering his team through this adversity will be a stiff test for Ryan, perhaps the stiffest of his tenure.
The schedule suggests that luck swings toward the Jets next week, when the hapless Dolphins visit MetLife Stadium on Monday night. If they do not defeat Miami, much larger problems exist. Even if they win, a victory hardly legitimizes their standing as playoff contenders, let alone Super Bowl contenders.
If the Jets, as they say, witnessed progress Sunday – in Shonn Greene’s rushing performance, in the offensive line – then it almost would seem more representative of their improvement if a more challenging opponent appeared on the schedule. Then, the Jets could know glean a better idea whether, despite being 2-3, they are headed toward respectability or infamy.
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