The Jets will return to action Sunday for the first time in two weeks and for the first time since owner Woody Johnson fired general manager Joe Douglas.
The team announced last week that it had hired a No. 33 team led by Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman and began the process of finding a new general manager and head coach.
I feel like the ownership is looking towards 2025.
However, there are still six games left this season.
Players and coaches now have to find ways to stay motivated at 3-8, as a playoff berth is still mathematically possible but not realistically possible.
It begins with a visit from the Seahawks, who are 6-5 and in first place in the NFC West.
It feels like the Jets are just giving it their all while the Seahawks have everything to play for with their old friend Geno Smith.
But they insisted this week there was still motivation in the locker room.
“I've never felt like anyone on this team has deviated from continuing to prepare and stay engaged at the highest level,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “The energy was good. The details were good. The approach was great, but it was great to feel that way the whole time. The process was done right. The result was not right.
“This week is this week.”
The Jets have lost seven of their last eight games this disappointing season. That includes a heartbreaking loss in the final moments to the Colts two weeks ago before the bye week.
They spent that vacation looking for answers to what went wrong.
The Jets have lost five straight against the Seahawks, with their last win against Seattle coming in 2004.
“Listen, I mean, if we win, everything will be better. So if we win this time, things will be better and we'll be better next game. But this season where things have been going well in recent weeks. That's the hardest part at this point,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “It comes down to whether the players are motivated and you can inspire them. [Ulbrich] They can have great quotes, great messages, and great stories on Saturday nights, but at the end of the day, the players are individually motivated and connected to something bigger than themselves. It just means you want to play for. I hope we all do. ”
