NYPost- O’Connor: Jets can send loud message with another Bills takedown

[92ShaunEllis92]

Jets can send loud message with another Bills takedown

Ian O'Connor - 12/5/22 9:54pm

Robert Saleh is an NFL coach who does a little standup comedy on the side. When the subject turns to his Jets quarterbacks, Saleh might as well be doing an old-school bit in the Catskills, or football’s version of the classic “Who’s on first?” routine by Abbott and Costello. 

That would be Lou Costello, the 1940s funnyman from Paterson, N.J., not Brian Costello, the less amusing Post beat writer from Jefferson, N.J., who asked Saleh if Mike White could wreck his grand plan of returning Zach Wilson to the field. The coach laughed Monday and asked the writer if he was blitzing him with “a backdoor hypothetical.” 

Saleh will twist himself into a pretzelavoiding a public acknowledgment of the obvious — that White might just be the best bet for the rest of 2022, and for 2023, and for 2024, and on and on and on. He wouldn’t even confirm that he’s open to the possibility that White just happens to be a better football player than Wilson, no matter what their draft slots and pedigrees suggest. 

If nothing else, it made for some good comic relief in the wake of the 27-22 loss to the Vikings. As far as Saleh’s full-time gig goes, nothing that went down Sunday in Minneapolis changed the fact that he is doing a hell of a job with his team in Year 2 of his program. 

Let’s face it: The vast majority of past Jets teams would have folded when down 17 points late in the first half, in an absurdly loud building that was home to a 9-2 team. Saleh’s Jets instead showed fierce determination while putting themselves in position to win. How about that Quincy Williams hit on T.J. Hockenson, punctuated by that roundhouse Tiger Woods fist pump? 

The Jets beat the Bills on the road with Zach Wilson under center. Doing it again with Mike White sould make them a serious postseason threat. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It was all good stuff, outside of the final score. The Jets fell to 7-5 when 8-4 was within a couple of inches and fingertips of their grasp, and if they ultimately miss the playoffs this one will haunt them for a while. 

The atmosphere inside U.S. Bank Stadium, Saleh said, “was as close to playoff football as you can get.” He repeated that if the Jets continue to play with the relentless spirit they showed in the second half, they will be rewarded. 

“I’ve just got a lot of faith in just the growth that we’ll take from that game,” he said.

So let’s see that growth Sunday in Buffalo. Let’s see the Jets apply the lessons learned against the Vikings to this next road matchup with the 9-3 Bills, the top seed in the AFC. 

The Jets have already beaten Buffalo at home, with Wilson at quarterback. But if they can complete the season sweep of their division rivals in a game shaped by major playoff implications on both sides, the Jets will do far more than neutralize New England’s sweep of them. 

They will send notice to the rest of the league that they can be a dangerous opponent in the postseason. They will send notice that they are capable of pretty much anything, including a trip to the AFC Championship game and (dare we say it) beyond. 

Mike White can help the Jets put the rest of the NFL on notice. Bill Kostroun

The flip side, of course, is a second straight defeat would land them in last place in the AFC East if the Patriots beat the Cardinals. But even though Saleh praised Buffalo and called Josh Allen “Superman at quarterback,” the Jets have the talent and the temperament to dodge that unpleasant scenario. 

They have a kicker who can nail a 60-yarder, and their defense remains among the sport’s best. On the other side of the ball, rookie Garrett Wilson appears to bean emerging superstar, the kind who can dominate a playoff game. 

Of even greater consequence, the Jets have found a quarterback whose fearless approach and ability to rebound from big hits inspire his teammates. Veteran tackle Duane Brown spoke of the huge fourth-down pass to Corey Davis right after White got pancaked by Danielle Hunter. “That kind of play just shows me what he’s made of,” Brown said. “Never wavers. The team recognizes that and everyone responds to it.” 

Veteran guard Laken Tomlinson called White’s toughness “incredible, really” and said his impressive command of the huddle “brings confidence to the guys around him.” The day before, Garrett Wilson offered the following: “I know that I’d go to war for that boy. He’s got something special about him.” 

Sounds like the kind of quarterback who can lead the Jets to their first road victory over a winning team. 

“I feel like we have people’s respect,” Brown said. “I think people understand that we’re legit and we’re a team to be reckoned with. … [A victory] adds to what people already feel about us.” 

It would add a ton. 

“We’re going to play our style of football,” Tomlinson pledged, “and we’re going to show the world what kind of team we are.” 

Yes, the Jets should go ahead and do that. They should go win a game in Buffalo, sweep the Bills, and prove that anything is possible for them in the Super Bowl tournament to come.

[SuicidalSince98]

No sh*t Sherlock 

[FidelioJet]

Is it me or is anyone else getting the sense the Jets players were happy with a competitive loss to the Vikings?

I know some of our fans are - but just based on what I'm reading - this team, overall, seem to be happy with their performance on Sunday.

To be clear - I'm basing it solely on a couple of quotes and articles I've read - so there's probably not anything to it - and I'm wrong..

But it's just a sense I'm getting and it's worrisome. 

[SuicidalSince98]

1 minute ago, FidelioJet said:

Is it me or is anyone else getting the sense the Jets players were happy with a competitive loss to the Vikings?

I know some of our fans are - but just based on what I'm reading - this team, overall, seem to be happy with their performance on Sunday.

To be clear - I'm basing it solely on a couple of quotes and articles I've read - so there's probably not anything to it - and I'm wrong..

But it's just a sense I'm getting and it's worrisome. 

That’s probably the message Saleh gave the team after the game 

[Ben Had]

My thoughts are, that us fans (fins & Jets) should be should be happy where we are now...this season.

It's been a lot of years since either team has been it the hunt. It's not over yet!

[Greenseed4]

17 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

Is it me or is anyone else getting the sense the Jets players were happy with a competitive loss to the Vikings?

I know some of our fans are - but just based on what I'm reading - this team, overall, seem to be happy with their performance on Sunday.

To be clear - I'm basing it solely on a couple of quotes and articles I've read - so there's probably not anything to it - and I'm wrong..

But it's just a sense I'm getting and it's worrisome. 

I think the team is (and should be) happy about playing competitive football for the first time in a long time.

[doitny]

10 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

Is it me or is anyone else getting the sense the Jets players were happy with a competitive loss to the Vikings?

I know some of our fans are - but just based on what I'm reading - this team, overall, seem to be happy with their performance on Sunday.

To be clear - I'm basing it solely on a couple of quotes and articles I've read - so there's probably not anything to it - and I'm wrong..

But it's just a sense I'm getting and it's worrisome. 

i dont think so. i think you have the NE loss reaction fresh in your mind. that was very frustrating and i think the team has reached its patience with Wilson. in this game yes we made some mistakes but we fought till the very end. we lost on the last play. people make too much out of the Vikings having a bad defense but they are 9-2 and going into their house was not an easy game to win. 

and honestly i wasnt too upset either. this was one of the most exciting Jet games i have watched in a while. for the first time since maybe Brett Favre was here i had confidence that on that last drive we would get it to the end Zone. and we did, we just couldnt get it in.

as the article said, SOJ down 20-3 at the half on the road the game would be over. but we fought till the very end. i dont think there happy but there not so angry that you can see it.

[FidelioJet]

2 minutes ago, Greenseed4 said:

I think the team is (and should be) happy about playing competitive football for the first time in a long time.

I'm sorry but I can't agree with this.

I mean, as a fan I'm enjoying being in the race and not focused on draft picks - and playing the proverbial Meaningful Games in December, so I get the sentiment...

But the NFL is a funny thing and teams come out of nowhere and make real runs.  

A team with as much talent as the Jets have right now should never be okay with competitive losses.  

[Joe W. Namath]

The thing that scares me is vegas is begging you to take the Jets.  Which means they think we are going to get our doors blown off.

[Greenseed4]

14 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

I'm sorry but I can't agree with this.

I mean, as a fan I'm enjoying being in the race and not focused on draft picks - and playing the proverbial Meaningful Games in December, so I get the sentiment...

But the NFL is a funny thing and teams come out of nowhere and make real runs.  

A team with as much talent as the Jets have right now should never be okay with competitive losses.  

Would you prefer flukey wins?

[FidelioJet]

Just now, Greenseed4 said:

Would you prefer flukey wins?

To competiive losees?

Yes. absolutely.

[BleedinGreenNC]

Are we their kryptonite? Lets hope so!!!

[Seibelt]

51 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

To competiive losees?

Yes. absolutely.

I agree with you there, but watching the game in real time was heart wrenching. Watching it a second time allowed me to see that the Jets really should have won that game if the team was an inch more in synch with each other, on multiple plays. They played damn well against a great football team. I’m never happy about a loss, even when it meant a better draft position. I’m just less mad today than I was on Sunday.

[AZSOJ]

3 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

Is it me or is anyone else getting the sense the Jets players were happy with a competitive loss to the Vikings?

I know some of our fans are - but just based on what I'm reading - this team, overall, seem to be happy with their performance on Sunday.

To be clear - I'm basing it solely on a couple of quotes and articles I've read - so there's probably not anything to it - and I'm wrong..

But it's just a sense I'm getting and it's worrisome. 

Or maybe they realize that they were a few inches away from a win against one of the best teams in the league and can play with anyone in the league, just another prespective. 

[FidelioJet]

21 minutes ago, AZSOJ said:

Or maybe they realize that they were a few inches away from a win against one of the best teams in the league and can play with anyone in the league, just another prespective. 

Definitely possible, but I would like to think they already believed that.  

Maybe that attitude helps and they start playing better, maybe it means they're okay being able to stay close with good teams.

That latter would be troublesome.  

[Greenseed4]

5 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

To competiive losees?

Yes. absolutely.

Flukey wins are how you end up with 4 win seasons watching intolerable football; not edge-of-your-seat 4th qtrs, but you do you boo.

[Fantasy Island]

10 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

I'm sorry but I can't agree with this.

I mean, as a fan I'm enjoying being in the race and not focused on draft picks - and playing the proverbial Meaningful Games in December, so I get the sentiment...

But the NFL is a funny thing and teams come out of nowhere and make real runs.  

A team with as much talent as the Jets have right now should never be okay with competitive losses.  

Referees without an agenda would nice in that game.  Not dragging an anchor like Zach is also refreshing to them too.

[FidelioJet]

dupe

 

[FidelioJet]

3 hours ago, Fantasy Island said:

Referees without an agenda would nice in that game.  Not dragging an anchor like Zach is also refreshing to them too.

Stop.  The Jets didn't lose because of the refs.

There's a lot of blame to go around for that loss - not any one individual - this was an overall team loss.

But the QB is surely part of it and quite a bit higher on the list than the refs.

[FidelioJet]

8 hours ago, Greenseed4 said:

Flukey wins are how you end up with 4 win seasons watching intolerable football; not edge-of-your-seat 4th qtrs, but you do you boo.

This take is honest and while I can't remotely agree with it, I appreciate you being upfront about the way you think about the team.

That a fan of a team would rather lose games than win - because of the way the game plays out. 

I mean, I think it just proves how different some fans are.

Having the right players perform well is more important than your team winning.  I always thought that's the way a lot of fans thought - and have been told my some that NO fans think like that.

Truthfully, I'm grateful for your honestly. 

[Irish Jet]

14 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

Is it me or is anyone else getting the sense the Jets players were happy with a competitive loss to the Vikings?

I know some of our fans are - but just based on what I'm reading - this team, overall, seem to be happy with their performance on Sunday.

To be clear - I'm basing it solely on a couple of quotes and articles I've read - so there's probably not anything to it - and I'm wrong..

But it's just a sense I'm getting and it's worrisome. 

Nonsense.

They were devastated. I was sick to my stomach after the loss.

There's a difference between being "happy" and being encouraged by the fight and effort the team showed to come back against a good team on the road.

In the grand scheme of things everything we are seeing from this team is promising for the long term. That I certainly am happy with, especially relative to what I felt in August. 

[Integrity28]

17 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

Is it me or is anyone else getting the sense the Jets players were happy with a competitive loss to the Vikings?

I know some of our fans are - but just based on what I'm reading - this team, overall, seem to be happy with their performance on Sunday.

To be clear - I'm basing it solely on a couple of quotes and articles I've read - so there's probably not anything to it - and I'm wrong..

But it's just a sense I'm getting and it's worrisome. 

It’s you.

 

[Integrity28]

2 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

Stop.  The Jets didn't lose because of the refs.

There's a lot of blame to go around for that loss - not any one individual - this was an overall team loss.

But the QB is surely part of it and quite a bit higher on the list than the refs.

I implore you to watch the games.

[Jet Nut]

17 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

Is it me or is anyone else getting the sense the Jets players were happy with a competitive loss to the Vikings?

I know some of our fans are - but just based on what I'm reading - this team, overall, seem to be happy with their performance on Sunday.

To be clear - I'm basing it solely on a couple of quotes and articles I've read - so there's probably not anything to it - and I'm wrong..

But it's just a sense I'm getting and it's worrisome. 

I think they’re happy that they play for a team that doesn’t give up, are proud that they they didn’t quit down 17

I think they’re happy that MW and his offense continued to move the ball, that it wasnt a one game fluke vs Chicago.

I don’t think that means that they’re happy with the results, that they’re not pissed for failing to convert just one more trip into the red zone.  

Hopefully it fires them for Buffalo and beyond 

[the Claw]

13 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

Definitely possible, but I would like to think they already believed that.  

Maybe that attitude helps and they start playing better, maybe it means they're okay being able to stay close with good teams.

That latter would be troublesome.  

Not for anything, but you’re acting like they gathered around in a circle in the locker room and cheered and yay-ed about how close they got to a good team. They didn’t seem happy about the close loss on the day. In retrospect, a team can look at what they did and be optimistic while still knowing they weren’t good enough to get it done and still need to get better. 

Saleh is about PVO. The players are going to echo much of what the coach lays out there. Just because they are not calling themselves failures doesn’t mean that they are content with a loss. 

[Larz]

Bill’s defense is getting white, Milano and poyer back from the first game. 
 

[Larz]

1 hour ago, Jet Nut said:

I think they’re happy that they play for a team that doesn’t give up, are proud that they they didn’t quit down 17

I think they’re happy that MW and his offense continued to move the ball, that it wasnt a one game fluke vs Chicago.

I don’t think that means that they’re happy with the results, that they’re not pissed for failing to convert just one more trip into the red zone.  

Hopefully it fires them for Buffalo and beyond 

Doesn’t give up ?  7-4 in December and yay they didn’t give up?

Can you imagine Parcells,coach K, belicheat ever making the claim to be proud that they didn’t quit?

saleh blew that game, was completely out coached by a first year coach , is totally full of sh*t and has mangled the QB position beyond repair probably 

But they didn’t quit !

[Greenseed4]

4 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

This take is honest and while I can't remotely agree with it, I appreciate you being upfront about the way you think about the team.

That a fan of a team would rather lose games than win - because of the way the game plays out. 

I mean, I think it just proves how different some fans are.

Having the right players perform well is more important than your team winning.  I always thought that's the way a lot of fans thought - and have been told my some that NO fans think like that.

Truthfully, I'm grateful for your honestly. 

This is twisting words, but I’ll play. 

Losing a game in the first few minutes is a completely different experience than losing it in the last few seconds. 

That’s because I am a fan that actually  watches all the games.  

When the Jets lose, I tend to have a dumpy day and feel like I got kicked in the nuts. I question how I can spend so much  time cheering for a team that isn’t even trying to win, and that in a way, makes ME a loser.  

After the Vikings game I was disappointed, sure, but I didn’t like a loser because we marched down the field again and again, and for the first time in a long time I had a voice in my head tell me “OMG we’re actually going  to win this thing”.  Would I have preferred a win? Yes, you dumb idiot.  But more important, the team is transitioning itself into a competitive football team.  If you can’t see that and be excited, I don’t know what to tell you. 

[FootballLove]

When the Bills lost that first game to the Jets, Bills players were like "ya, we lost, but we played really well against a top team so we feel pretty good about where our team is headed"?

[FidelioJet]

23 minutes ago, Greenseed4 said:

you dumb idiot.

That's nice.

This idea of calling anonymous people names over the internet always fascinates me.

 

[FidelioJet]

2 hours ago, the Claw said:

Not for anything, but you’re acting like they gathered around in a circle in the locker room and cheered and yay-ed about how close they got to a good team.

When did I act like that?

Below is literally what I wrote in the original statement.

20 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

To be clear - I'm basing it solely on a couple of quotes and articles I've read - so there's probably not anything to it - and I'm wrong..

 

[GangGreened]

1 hour ago, Larz said:

Bill’s defense is getting white, Milano and poyer back from the first game. 
 

And we are not starting Zach Wilson

fair?

[Greenseed4]

17 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

That's nice.

This idea of calling anonymous people names over the internet always fascinates me.

 

We have been exchanging thoughts and ideas with each other for over eight years now.  I thought you could take some playful ribbing. 

I don’t think you’re dumb, or an idiot, and I apologize if that hurt your feelings.

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

2 hours ago, Larz said:

Can you imagine Parcells,coach K, belicheat ever making the claim to be proud that they didn’t quit?

I've heard BB say plenty of times in postgame pressers that he's proud of the way his team fought.

It's always couched within the typical coachspeak of "didn't get the job done, it wasn't good enough, need to coach / play better, give credit to them [other team], etc." BS, but he has stated as much.

I mean they lost to a 9-2 team.

I don't see how the result, as difficult as it was to accept, can be viewed as a derailing moment for this football program.

[Beerfish]

The message will be this:  If the Jets win again it will not be "The Jets are really good they could contend!"  It will be "The Bills lost to the jets twice?  They are not nearly as good as we thought!"