The New York Jets’ organization and its tortured fan base had extremely high hopes heading into the 2023-24 NFL season. Former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett took over the offensive coordinator duties, which helped to catch an even bigger fish. Future Hall-of-Fame QB Aaron Rodgers came to New York from the Green Bay Packers via trade, skyrocketing the Jets’ expectations. When Hackett was the OC for Rodgers and the Packers in 2020, Green Bay had the league’s top-scoring offense.
The Jets also made a deal to acquire veteran safety Chuck Clark from the Baltimore Ravens, and signed free-agent WRs Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb. Finally, four-time Pro-Bowler Dalvin Cook joined a N.Y. Jets running back room that was already brimming with talent. Phenom RB Breece Hall was set to return from injury, and Michael Carter made for a nice third option/ change-of-pace back.
A gritty Jets squad that had finished 7-10 the previous season, largely on the grizzled backs of Coach Saleh’s tenacious defense, was now suddenly in the Super Bowl conversation. “Fireman Ed” probably started making plans to be at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 11. HBO selected Gang Green to be featured on “Hard Knocks”. The N.Y. Jets' 54-year championship drought was about to be drenched in champagne.
The first setback came when safety Chuck Clark tore his ACL during OTAs and was lost for the season. However, the presumed knockout punch landed when Rodgers tore his left Achilles just four plays into the first game of the Jets’ regular season. Zach Wilson was pressed into immediate action against a nasty Buffalo Bills’ defense, and Jets fans everywhere were wondering what they’d done to deserve such bad luck and suffering.
However, N.Y. rallied, recovered, and came back to stun the Buffalo Bills 22-16 in OT. Many wrote this off as an emotionally charged performance and ultimately, a fluke. What people seemed to forget is that the Jets were already formidable before Rodgers came to town. Last year, shut-down CB Sauce Gardner was named Defensive Rookie of the Year (ROY), and stud WR Garrett Wilson somehow managed to win Offensive ROY.
Wilson’s feat was especially impressive since he had the trio of Joe Flacco, Mike White, and the often-criticized Zach Wilson throwing to him. Perhaps Wilson deserves more credit, particularly in light of how he’s handled starting QB duties since Rodgers’ injury. The former BYU standout has stood in the proverbial pocket through what amounts to a media-driven hurricane, and he hasn’t been swept off into the atmosphere as of yet. .
Is Wilson mainly a game-managing quarterback for the Jets right now? Yes, but the young man has shown considerable moxie this season, plays behind a less than optimal offensive line, and is still adjusting to Hackett’s West Coast offensive style. The Jets’ defense/ special teams stepped up huge against the Bills in Week 1, picking off Buffalo QB Josh Allen three times. Xavier Gipson won the game in OT with a riveting 65-yard punt return, so Wilson didn’t have to do too much on that fateful Monday Night.
GAME-WINNING PUNT RETURN TD FOR ROOKIE XAVIER GIPSON 😱
— ESPN (@espn) September 12, 2023
JETS WIN IT IN OT ON MNF! pic.twitter.com/5iusURciwV
The Week 2 game in Dallas was a horror show all around, but after that the Jets’ performances started to trend sharply upwards. New York was a successful Hail Mary away from defeating New England in Week 3, and the referees appear to have cost the Jets a victory against the Super Bowl Champion Chiefs in a Week 4 nailbiter.
Wilson completed 28-of-39 passes for 245 yards, two touchdowns, and no picks against the Chiefs, unexpectedly outplaying K.C. quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The jaws of the Jets’ defense gobbled up two interceptions while limiting Mahomes to one TD and 203 passing yards. After the controversial 20-23 loss, Coach Saleh had nothing but high praise for Wilson.
"If he plays like that, we're gonna win a lot of football games."
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 2, 2023
Robert Saleh on Zach Wilson's performance vs. Chiefs
(via @nyjets) pic.twitter.com/kAHIwYMxlW
Next, the Jets beat up the Broncos in Denver in Week 5. Wilson didn’t do much damage to Denver that day, but he also didn’t hurt his own squad. The beast inside of RB Breece Hall burst out and he barrelled through the Broncos’ soft defense for 177 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Wilson completed a season-high 73.1% of his passes en route to a 31-21 Jets victory. Every week the Jets have been getting stronger, showing that they can hang with anyone and win football games in a variety of ways.
Entering the Jets’ Week 6 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York was a seven-point home dog with many fans fearing that it would be worse than that. At the time, Philly was the last remaining undefeated team in the league at 5-0. The Eagles are a tough, talented, well-rounded squad, but the Jets came ready for a fight.
This is the best thing I seen all day
— 𝕵𝖔𝖊𝖞𝕵𝖊𝖙𝖘 (@JetsAGNB) October 17, 2023
Zach Wilson / “C” … #Eagles a
BRONX TALE #Jets #Takeflight
pic.twitter.com/wpeDBtqHrY
Before Jalen Hurts and company knew what hit them, they were limping out of MetLife Stadium with their first loss of the season. Furthermore, it was the first time that the Jets had beaten the Eagles…ever. The Jets were 0-12 all-time vs the Eagles prior to this 20-14 upset victory, and it has become clear that there is now a winning culture being built. Traditionally a whipping post for the rest of the NFL, the Jets have now beaten the reigning AFC East champs, gone ten rounds with the reigning Super Bowl champs (losing a lousy split decision), and vanquished the reigning NFC champs.
Zach Wilson is evolving right before our eyes and there is an abundance of explosive talent and tenacity on both sides of the ball. The Jets’ D has made a fool out of the three of the top quarterbacks in football, and it feels like they’re just getting started.
Game story: Against Mahomes, Hurts and Allen — who finished 1-2-3 in the 2022 MVP voting — the #Jets have 8 INTs. https://t.co/T08k4BYeR4
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 16, 2023
As of this writing, the 3-3 New York Jets have a 22% chance of making the playoffs. The way the Jets have been playing, it would not be shocking to see them win seven or eight more games, which would virtually guarantee them a playoff berth. The Jets last reached the postseason in 2010, losing the AFC Championship game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-19. Pittsburgh advanced to play Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV, where Rodgers won his first and only Super Bowl. Rodgers threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, earning Super Bowl MVP honors.
