The frustration of a season in which they missed the playoffs has returned for Jets fans. It has been a tradition held every January for the past 13 seasons.
Jets are similar to the road construction you see on your commute to work. The construction work is never finished and no progress is being made.
There are several teams in these playoffs that have recently found themselves in similar situations to the Jets and have turned things around. It's both a source of frustration and hope for the Jets and their fans.
Watching teams like the Texans and Lions is a reminder that rebuilding a team doesn't have to take 10 years. It shows what can be done when you have a good coach, a good quarterback, and a solid supporting cast.
The Jets have the No. 1 and No. 3 pieces and feel they can get the No. 2 if they can keep Aaron Rodgers healthy in 2024.
Going back to the 2021 season, the worst five teams of the year were the Jaguars, Lions, Jets, Giants, and Texans. Last season, the Jaguars and Giants each won a playoff game. Last weekend, the Lions and Texans played a game.
So why are the Jets going through an adolescent drought in the playoffs?
The simplest answer is often the right one, and in this case it's clear that the quarterback's play held them back.
CJ Stroud and Jared Goff hit home runs from the Texans and Lions' respective front offices. Jaguars forward Trevor Lawrence hasn't lived up to the “generational quarterback” label since the pre-draft process, but it's clear he'll be a solid starter for many years. Daniel Jones had a monster season in 2022, and the Giants made the playoffs in part because of it.
The Jets entered the 2021 offseason facing their biggest decision in recent memory. After going 2-14 in 2020, they acquired the No. 2 overall pick, a position they don't want to play again. They had to decide whether to keep Sam Darnold at quarterback or move forward.
Joe Douglas traded Darnold to the Panthers and opted to draft Zach Wilson with the No. 2 pick.
The pick is so bad that the Jets are expected to trade or release Wilson this offseason.
Nothing sets a franchise back more than blowing a first-round pick on a quarterback. The Jets have done it twice in four years with Darnold and Wilson.
To their credit, the team traded Wilson for Rodgers last offseason. Of course, that plan failed in four plays, forcing the Jets to turn to Wilson.
The result was a second straight 7-10 season, and Jets fans once again watched the playoffs without a team to root for.
The question is whether the Jets can be the team that turns things around in 2024. Both the defense and special teams were at a playoff caliber in 2023. Douglas did a good job building those units.
Violations are the problem. Is a healthy Rogers enough? Will Douglas finally have a strong offensive line to protect him? Can they find a wide receiver to complement Garrett Wilson?
It can feel like the eternal rebuilding never ends. However, remember that the Bills have been in a playoff drought for 17 years, ending in 2017, and are now a regular playoff team. The Browns made the playoffs for the first time in 17 years before making it to the playoffs in 2020, but only for the second time in the past four years.
It's possible.
Seeing teams like the Lions and Texans win in the playoffs might make Jets fans scream, but it should also give them hope.
Better bowls?
Todd Bowles' success with the Buccaneers is further proof that it takes great players to be a great coach.
I don't think Bowles is suddenly a better coach in Tampa. Tampa now has two district titles and a win in its first playoff game on Monday.
In his first year with the Jets, Bowles went 10-6 with a strong, older roster. The following year, that old roster became very stale and the season fell apart. In 2017, the team basically trimmed the roster, and then in 2018, he got a rookie quarterback in Darnold to a one-year deal.
It was hard to judge how good Coach Bowles was because the talent on the roster was terrible. In hindsight, Bowles took on too much responsibility and GM Mike Maccagnan didn't take on enough responsibility. Maccagnan was unable to give Bowles a winning roster.
Bowles' mistakes with the Jets are not forgivable. Because there were a lot of them.
But when trying to evaluate Robert Saleh as the Jets' coach, it's worth remembering that the quality of the players, especially the quarterback, has a huge impact on a coach's success.
That's the status
Greg Zuerlein had a great season with the Jets this year. He set a franchise record with 35 field goals.
The team's single-season top 10 leaders in field goals made are:
1. Greg Zuerlein, 2023: 35-38 (FGM-FGA)
2. Jim Turner, 1968: 34-46
3. Jason Myers, 2018: 33-36
3. Nick Falk, 2013: 33-36
5. Jim Turner, 1969: 32-47
5. Nick Falk, 2014: 32-39
7. Nick Falk, 2010: 30-39
8. Jay Feely, 2009: 30-36
8. Greg Zuerlein, 2022: 30-37
10. Mike Nugent, 2007: 29-36
Source: Pro Football Reference
