The New Jets Gameplan to Make The Playoffs

By Trevor Speetzen October 23, 2024 22:35

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

In week 7 of the 2024 NFL season, the New York Jets suffered their fifth loss of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team falls to 2-5 on the season after an embarrassing 37-15 loss to Pittsburgh.

The Jets had high hopes to begin the season as quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned from his achilles injury. After starting the year 2-1, New York has been on a four-game slide ever since.

The Jets have faced a litany of problems during the course of this season, the same team that was dubbed a Super Bowl contentender at the beginning of the year.

One of their problems was acquisition of pro bowl linebacker Hassan Reddick. After he was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles, Reddick began holding out of training camp in order to secure a long-term deal.

The Reddick contract situation led into the beginning of the season before Reddick and the Jets agreed to terms. Reddick missed the first six games of the season before suiting up with the team in week 7 against the Steelers.

Reddick wasn’t the only problem the team has faced this year. The firing of Robert Saleh was the telling sign that there was a problem within the franchise.

The firing of Saleh, and the demotion of offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett, have not solved any problems for the Jets. New York has yet to win a game ever since interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich took over.

In order to combat their sinking ship, the Jets made a huge trade to acquire star wide receiver Davante Adams. The Jets traded Adams for a 2025 conditional third-round pick that may become a second-round pick if Adams makes the pro bowl or plays in the Super Bowl.

The hope for the Adams trade was that he and Rodgers could re-spark that connection that they had in Green Bay.

In his Jets debut, it was less than spectacular. Adams had only three catches for 30 yards, but it was only his first game with the Jets and Adams has been a couple years removed from Rodgers, it may take time to adjust.

However after their devastating loss to Pittsburgh, it seems like the Adams trade won’t help the Jets this season. So where do the Jets go from here?

With the turnover at head coach and the drama surrounding Rodgers, Reddick, Adams it could be best for the team to look at the 2024 season as a lost cause and focus on 2025.

With Colorado Buffaloes prospects Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders likely declaring next year, New York could have an opportunity to pick up one of the players.

Hunter could be an asset on offense or defense, depending on what position he’ll play in the NFL. Sanders could be looked at as future franchise quarterback for the Jets if Rodgers retires soon or his play continues to decline.

After the loss against the Steelers, Rodgers took accountability for his poor play, even after criticizing the New York media in the same press conference.

“I gotta play better. That’s the key,” Rodgers said in his press conference. “I gotta play better, I gotta find a way to run the ball better so we can action pass.”

The Jets still have a chance to save their season as we’ve yet to hit the halfway point of the 2024 season.