Well the season hit its midway point for most teams this week. The New York Jets sit at 4-5 heading into Week 10 and are in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.
They are coming off a 13-point Thursday night win at home against the Bills that was never really close. A team that was said to be the worst roster in the history of football is impressing people.
The Jets are winning with some players you may have never heard of until this year. A team that was surely on the verge of tanking is now in a position to sneak into a playoff spot.
Emerging Offense
When the season started, there was a big question mark at quarterback for the Jets. Now as the season enters Week 10, there is no question that Josh McCown is the quarterback they want. McCown has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards, completed 70 percent of his passes and almost has a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio.
The offense has 55 seconds more time of possession than their opponents. They are are also winning the turnover battle by two turnovers. They have three wide receivers who are on pace for over 50 receptions, as well as running back Matt Forte also being on that same pace.
For an offense that was said to have the lowest talent at the skilled positions in the league, they are averaging 21.2 points per game. With many wide receivers no one has heard of and a running back past his prime, the Jets have shocked the NFL.
The guys you don’t know
First, we can kick this off by talking about Robby Anderson and Jermaine Kearse. Both have scored four touchdowns each this year and have been very valuable in head coach Todd Bowles’ offense. Both are on pace for over 750 receiving yards and have looked very sure-handed for the Jets offense.
Then we look at Bilal Powell, who you should know by now, but if you don’t, here we go. Powell is on pace for 750 rushing yards and 250 receiving yards and for most of the season hasn’t even been the starting running back. He has eight yards per reception and nearly five yards per carry on the ground. Powell has five plays over 20 yards and has a couple of touchdowns to go along with them. He is electric in the screen game and provides a change of pace from Forte.
The last guy is Austin Seferian-Jenkins. He has emerged as the biggest red zone threat in the Jets offense as of late. He is catching 80 percent of his targets and has three touchdowns this season. He leads the team in receptions at 33 and is fourth on the team in receiving yards. At 6-foot-5, he is McCown’s favorite red zone target due to his height to couple with his 37.5 inch vertical jump at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Todd Bowles
I don’t think in professional sports that coaches get as much credit as they should. Todd Bowles has turned a team that was projected to not even win a game into a 4-5 team through nine weeks. This Jets team has beaten two division rivals, a solid Jaguars team and the Cleveland Browns. Through it all,, Bowles hasn’t been spectacular, but he’s been more than consistent.
He has led this young team both confidently and constructively so that the New York Jets are only taking steps forward. When you are coaching a young team, those two things make all the difference. The Jets are a borderline playoff team, but have beaten three of the four teams ahead of them in the playoff race.
The Jets have a tough outlook ahead as they play the Saints, Patriots, Chiefs and Panthers down the stretch. If they can take care of business against the Chargers, Broncos and Buccaneers and maybe steal a game or two against the other four teams, they could find themselves in a Wild Card game come playoff time.
Featured image from NYtimes.com.
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