THE NEW YORK JETS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS

The 2024 NFL season is here and before we look at The New York Jets let's check out the rest of the AFC East. 

 

The Miami Dolphins will be tough competition as Tua Tagovailoa who passed for an NFL high 4624 yards last season will be back again for the fins as they signed him to a four year extension before training camp. Miami also made sure his best weapon,  wide receiver Tyreek Hill who got huge money with a restructured contract will be there challenge for the division title. 

 

The Buffalo Bills have won the AFC East the last four years and have perennial MVP candidate in quarterback Josh Allen, but Allen no longer has his favorite target as wide receiver Stefan Diggs was traded on draft day to Houston and his second favorite wide receiver Gabe Davis signed with Jacksonville during offseason. A division title will not be as easy this year for the Bills.

 

New England is in a transitional stage as they have a new head coach Jerod Mayo who takes over for future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick. The Patriots went in a completely different direction as they moved on from QB Mac Jones and drafted another quarterback in Drake Maye with their third overall selection in this year's draft. If New England finishes around .500 it will be a huge success.

 

It would appear the New York Jets have what it takes to make the playoffs finally after a 14 year absence and win the AFC East division. It all starts with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and this season he has new and improved offensive line.  Rogers will be the beneficiary of a new left tackle in future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith, Smith's only Achilles is his ability to play an entire season, as Smith has only played sixteen games once since 2015. Right guard Elijah Vera Tucker will hopefully avoid the injury bug as Tucker is a bonafide stud at the guard position. Rounding out the rest of the offensive line will be right tackle Morgan Moses, tackle John Simpson and center Joe Tippmann. This front should keep Aaron protected throughout the season and provide holes for the excellent running game of Breece Hall.

 

In the passing game The Jets look to wide receiver Garrett Wilson to break out in his third season.  Wilson was able to post two 1000 yard seasons despite getting bottom 5 quarterback play. His new counterpart will be veteran wide receiver Mike Williams signed in the offseason from the Los Angeles Chargers and Rogers former teammate wide receiver Allen Lazard will round out the wide receiver core. Tight end Tyler Conklin will assume a full time role this year and The Jets have possibly the best running back in the NFL receiving the ball in Breece Hall.  Aaron Rodgers has passed for 4000 yards 10 times in his career and the Jets have only one such season in their history. Legend Joe Namath threw for over 4007 in 1968, at that time a NFL Record. That happens to be the last time and only time they won the Super Bowl.   Injuries notwithstanding this offense should be high octane as Gang Green will have Breece Hall back completely from injury and ready to embark on what many are predicting will be a MVP caliber season.  

 

The defense has been a strong component the last two seasons, and this year should be no different, this is one of the best secondaries in the NFL spearheaded by two time all pro cornerback Sauce Gardener who has allowed only two touchdowns and half of the balls thrown in his direction completed his first two seasons of his career. On the other side of the field will be formidable corner DJ Reed and along with the two shutdown corners the Jets are in good hands at the safety positions with Michael Carter II and Chuck Clark who is returning from an ACL injury last year after signing with the Jets in 2023 from the Baltimore Ravens and never playing a down. Tony Adams will round out this strong unit for New York. 

 

 The fact that New York blitzes less than any team in the NFL except one helps linebackers CJ Mosley the veteran, and Quincy Williams, the rising star, a chance to make many tackles. The team does not  blitz a lot is because they generate a tremendous pass rush from Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams who is also one of the game's best run stuffers. The pass rush does have a large question mark as star pass rusher Hassan Reddick’s who was acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles in the off season has yet to report. This will put more pressure from edge rushers  Jermaine Johnson,  Will McDonald IV and Michael Clemens.  Javon Kinlaw was acquired from the San Francisco 49ers as a potential elite run stopper.  Kinlaw was selected14th overall in the 2020 draft by the 49ers and could benefit from a change of scenery.  

 

 The Jets special teams was amongst the best in the NFL last season as kicker Greg Zuerlein converted on 92% of his field goals, missing only 1 from 50 yards out. Thomas Morestead punted an NFL high 99 times, which was the 38th most NFL history and averaged 41.7 per net. If all things go well this year Zuerlein will be in line for a Pro Bowl  by the offense scoring more touchdowns and Morestead  will not be relied as much to pin the opposing teams back. 

The one difference between this year and last is that if injury does hit the most important position this year there will be a viable backup waiting to lead them in quarterback Tyrod Taylor. In the offseason The Jets helped many of their depth issues as their first pick was offensive lineman Olu Fashanu from Penn State, wide receiver Malachi Conley and running back Braelon Allen. The Jets also drafted Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis who will be the heir apparent to Rogers once his career closes out with New York. 

The BCP + will be here every week to cover Gang Green and this season fans can post their take in the comments section, I will utilize your thoughts in future articles.   It all starts this Monday Night again for the second season in a row!! The San Francisco 49ers vs. the New York Jets.    A Super Bowl preview you might say??