Playoff talk can start only after a win against Broncos
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Jets in the playoffs?
No, this isn’t a joke. If the playoffs started today, Gang Green would be the No. 6 seed in the AFC. However, there are 11 games left in the season, so a lot can change between now and then.
Currently, the Jets, who are a surprising 4-2, have the second-longest postseason drought in the big four North American sports as they last made the playoffs in 2010. Only the NBA’s Sacramento Kings (2006) have gone longer without making the playoffs.
The Jets have a 37% chance to make the playoffs, according to FiveThirtyEight. The site is predicting Robert Saleh’s team will finish with a 9-8 record.
This weekend’s game at Denver is enormous as the Green and White could be in a good position to finally end that long drought with a win in the Mile High city. Since the expansion of the playoffs in 1990, teams that started the season 5-2 have made the postseason 75.5% of the time. Teams that begin the year 4-3 have made the playoffs 48.2% of the time.
If the Jets are going to make the postseason, it appears their rushing attack — along with their defense — will have to lead the way. During New York’s threegame winning streak, its defense has allowed 47 points. For those mathematically challenged, the Jets’ defense is allowing an average of 15.6 points per game.
Quarterback Zach Wilson has been a bit of a game manager since returning from his knee injuries. In the three games since his return, Wilson has passed for 572 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Things should be easier on the Jets’ defense after it was announced Saturday the Denver quarterback Russell Wilson will sit out with a bum hamstring. Backup Brett Rypien will get the start.
That could eventually lead to teams putting seven or eight players in the box trying to slow down rookie Breece Hall, who has been on an absolute tear the last three weeks.
During that span, Hall has rushed for 279 yards and three touchdowns. He also has six receptions for 117 yards.
“I think Zach has proven he can win with his arm too,” Saleh said. “Green Bay was heavy man to start the game and really throughout the game. When you play as much man as they tried to play, you’re going to give up explosive plays.
“We will see how each game presents itself. Every team usually sticks to its philosophy and how they want to approach things. Teams usually try to take away what you’re really good at and make you do something else.”
No Wilson to deal with: Wilson was ruled out Saturday, less than 24 hours after coach Nathaniel Hackett said he figured Wilson’s playing status would be a game-day decision. This will mark Rypien’s second career start. His other one also was against the Jets, a 37-28 Denver win on Oct. 1, 2020, when he threw for two touchdowns and was intercepted three times.
Veteran Josh Johnson will be elevated from the practice squad to serve as Rypien’s backup when the Broncos (2-4) try to snap a threegame skid and end a three-game win streak for the Jets (4-2), who have already matched last year’s win total. Rypien is a third-year pro who went undrafted after starring at Boise State, where he went 37-12 as the starting QB. He edged out Johnson in a training camp competition to serve as Wilson’s backup.