Making projections is a dangerous business. It is often fruitless, too. But it has become fairly obvious that November is shaping up as a critical month for the Jets, and not just because it comes after October.
The Jets, after defeating San Diego on Sunday, are 4-3 heading into their bye week and ninth in the A.F.C. The top six teams in the conference make the playoffs.
To earn a spot in the top four, the Jets would have to win the division. That is possible, but pretty much only if they defeat New England (5-1) at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 13. To improve their chances of earning one of the two wild-card spots, the Jets must beat other teams in contention.
None appear on their schedule except for the Buffalo Bills, who play the Jets twice next month — on Nov. 6 in Orchard Park, N.Y., and on Nov. 27 at MetLife Stadium. The Jets’ other November game is at Denver, which could be trickier than the Broncos’ record — 2-4, after the legend of Tim Tebow grew Sunday — suggests.
Clearly, the Jets are trending upward. Their defense shut out the Chargers’ high-powered offense in the second half. Plaxico Burress caught three touchdown passes, all in the red zone, in a performance that showed why he was given a guaranteed $3.017 million deal. And for the first time all season, the Jets amassed more rushing yards (162) than passing (156) on the strength of a breakout day by Shonn Greene.
Was the Jets’ comeback Sunday enough to slough aside their early woes and inconsistency, or will the tough November schedule derail their playoff hopes?
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