2017 New York Jets outlook - Bass Pigskin Journal

[Bass Pigskin Journal]

It truly has been an incredible season for the 2017 New York Jets. Heading into the final week of the schedule the Jets hold their playoff fate in their own hands and their task is tall. Awaiting them are their immortal enemies in Bill Belechick’s 10-5 New England Patriots. Throw in sub arctic temperature’s and the hostile Gillette Stadium crowd and the Jet’s have their work cut out for them this final Sunday. 

Still, who would have thought that the team in Green would be anywhere near this position a year ago? Question marks were everywhere, with nearly every position in need of emergency CPR. An offseason purge saw practically every veteran player off loaded, replaced with fresh faces out of college and a couple of odd free agent signings. Expectations were low as ever. Any win total above 4 would be considered a success.

Initially, an 0-2 start and yet another concussion to veteran signal caller Josh McCown spelled doom. After all, Christian Hackenberg was a complete mystery. Then 3 consecutive wins over Miami, Jacksonville and Cleveland had Jet fans minds dancing thinking this time things could be different. Sure, Hackenberg looked shaky at times (6 INT’s including 3 in the thriller at Cleveland)  but 9 touchdown passes certainly were encouraging as was his leadership in the 4th quarter during the amazing comeback verses the Browns.

Then the Miracle. Hackenberg’s Jets, coming in as 13 point home underdogs against Tom Brady and the, undefeated at the time, Patriots, put on an incredible display of grit pulling off the insane 13-10 upset. It was a game highlighted by two plays which are etched into memory of the Jet faithful; Jamal Adam’s insane hit on Julian Edelman across the middle causing a crucial turnover; and of course Leonard Williams Sack on Brady which resulted in the sprained ankle that kept Brady out for the 4th quarter and ultimately until mid November. 

Coming off of that high the letdown that occurred verses Atlanta was predictable. Same old Jets they say. Still, everyone knew the 2017 Green Machine was going to have massive growing pains. Given what happened a short week before against New England, their performance, especially that of Hackenberg (3 INT), was somewhat excusable. The following week they made quick work of the Bills highlighted by 21 first quarter points and the two Hackeberg to Hansen bombs, either of which would have made Wesley Walker proud. 

All along while so much attention was being paid to the outperformance of Hackenberg, the Jet defense, under de facto leader Leonard Williams, was blossoming. Adams and Marcus Maye may be quickly developing into one of the best tandems in the league and the Jet pass rush has risen out of the ashes fueled by a revitalized Sheldon Richardson and a motivated Mohammad Wilkerson. Even with some shaky cornerback play and the Hackenberg growing pains (15 INT’s to date) the Jets are still 9th in the league in positive turnover differential. 

Road losses at Tampa and Denver show that there is still a lot of work to do but after Hackenberg’s 467 yard performance in New Orleans (167 of which went to rookie tight end Jordan Leggett) and the ensuing destruction last weekend of the Chargers in the Meadowlands, the 2017 edition of the Jets have already exceeded expectations. 

So while the test is tall on Sunday up in Foxboro, ecstatic coach Todd Bowles words following the Charger win ring true: “We’ve got nothing to lose. We know they have revenge on their mind and they are a great football team, but we are playing loose football right now. This group of kids are having fun. Hack, Hansen, Adams, Maye, Leggett, hey even Elijah, these guys are having the time of their lives this year and have all outperformed most everyone’s expectations”.

It’s win and your in time. No matter what happens Sunday, 2017 has been a year of change and promise for the Jets. The future, for the first time in a long time, looks bright as can be. 

 

Fasten your seat belts.

[jetscrazey]

Maybe we should start a "fan fiction" forum.  It'll be the only place the Jets will be winning this year.

[jamesr]

Hack comes down with a mystery illness; Petty is abducted by aliens, McCown still injured ... Jets sign Fitz in desperation, three interceptions in the fourth quarter later and Jet Nation explodes so ferociously the internet is down for weeks.

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