This holiday season, there’s much less for the New York Jets to be thankful for, but their wish list grows.
They wish for a postseason, stability at the quarterback position, fewer injuries, fewer losses and fewer reasons for those losses.
After a respectable 10-6 start last season, missing the playoffs by just one game, a new head coach, Todd Bowles and general manager, Mike Maccagnan, the Jets have been unable to build on that success, their insertion of hope.
There will be fewer than 10 wins this year. They’re not receiving capital gains on the $12 million they’ve paid to Ryan Fitzpatrick during the offseason, a hope to further the success of the 2015-16 season.
Geno Smith’s contract expires at season’s end. His current injury prevents the Jets from determining whether he should be retained.
Bryce Petty has been filling in for Fitzpatrick who’s been injured—an MCL sprain since their game Nov. 6, a loss to the Miami Dolphins. It’s been determined that rookie Christian Hackenberg isn’t ready for game play. We’ll come back to this assumption.
The defense that features the re-signed Muhammad Wilkerson and end Sheldon Richardson isn’t getting it done. There’s a weakness in the secondary, and Pro Bowler Darrelle Revis has shown signs of diminished skills. Veteran center Nick Mangold, ailing from knee and ankle injuries since October, is still not ready for practice and is day to day.
This situation is the current state of your New Jets, 3-7, who had their bye last week, play the New England Patriots, 8-2, who are leading the division, Sunday here at MetLife Stadium.
Fitzpatrick has recovered and will once again start because, as Bowles says of his QB who has only completed 57 percent of his passes, “He gives us the best chance to win.”
“He knows more of the system,” Bowles said. “We can do more things with him. He’s been the starter.”
Giving the impression that he believes that his future is now, he said he’ll deal with tomorrow when all options to win have been depleted today. “I’m into winning ballgames,” he stated. “You always play to win the game.”
He has Petty ready to play if called upon.
