Can Mangold Get the Jets Back on Track?

How will the Jets recover from another beating heading into a crucial game in New England?

Above all, their priority is stabilizing the offensive line. The easiest – and most obvious – solution involves someone who didn’t even take a snap Sunday night: Nick Mangold. If he can come back after a two-game absence, as Rex Ryan expects, the Jets would regain the best center in football, the man in charge of making checks and calls at the line.

Mangold’s absence was felt in Oakland, but much more so Sunday night, when the Jets struggled to protect Mark Sanchez, who committed four turnovers and was hit 10 times. Mangold’s replacement, Colin Baxter, fired a snap too hard off Sanchez’s hands that was recovered by Baltimore, and was benched for a time when the Jets, in a move that could be construed as reactionary, rotated Matt Slauson to center and inserted Vlad Ducasse at guard.

It is no guarantee that Mangold would rejuvenate the Jets’ running game, but at this point, it can’t get much worse. Through Sunday’s games, the Jets have rushed for 284 yards, 28th in the N.F.L., and their average of 3.1 yards per carry is better than only Detroit (3.0) and Tennessee (2.8).

“This football team cannot be successful when we’re rushing for 38 yards,” Ryan said. “There’s no chance.”