Jets want a Mets-like run to win again their annoyed followers

Can the Jets turn out to be the Mets?

Can the Jets, after an uneven begin to this season, rebound the way in which the Mets did after dropping their first 5 video games, being 11-games beneath .500 on June 3 and now taking part in within the Nationwide League Division Sequence as darling comeback children of the 2024 baseball season?

Can the Jets discover their method to the postseason and make some noise as soon as they get there because the Mets are at the moment doing?

Can they really turn out to be a group we have a good time, one which we embrace the way in which we’re embracing the Mets?

The Jets should not a really embraceable group in the intervening time.

Underachievers are by no means embraced.

Groups that play beneath their potential and expectations, which is exactly the place the 2-3 Jets stand after dropping to the Vikings Sunday in London, are by no means celebrated.

As an alternative, they’re reviled by their followers, who name for his or her head coach to be fired, which is a spot the place Jets followers at the moment stand united with regard to Robert Saleh and his 20-36 report in three-plus seasons.

The Jets entered this 12 months with Corridor of Fame-bound quarterback Aaron Rodgers wholesome after dropping his 2023 season to the torn Achilles. With a wholesome Rodgers come Tremendous Bowl expectations and far hype.

Receiver Garrett Wilson was going to emerge as one of the vital prolific go catchers within the league with a wholesome Rodgers throwing to him. Working again Breece Corridor was going to turn out to be one of the vital dynamic two-way backs within the league. The rebuilt offensive line was going to serve the working sport and shield Rodgers.

And, after 5 weeks, that is what we now have: An offensively bumbling Jets group wanting similar to the editions which have disenchanted and aggravated their followers for the previous 13 years.

Via 5 video games final season, with Zach Wilson at quarterback, the Jets have been 2-3 and had 93 factors scored. Via 5 video games this season, with Rodgers at quarterback, the Jets are 2-3 with 93 factors scored.

Bizarre.

Alarming, too.

Rodgers has struggled. Wilson remains to be uncomfortably and inexplicably not on the identical web page with Rodgers. Corridor is averaging simply 39.4 dashing yards per sport. Rodgers has been sacked eight occasions and endured 26 hits prior to now two video games.

But, as unhealthy because the Jets have been prior to now two video games — that inexcusable 10-9 house loss to the Broncos after which Sunday in London, the place Rodgers threw three interceptions, the revamped offensive line seemed prefer it’s by no means performed collectively earlier than and the working sport continued to go backward — the Jets are fortunate.

Sure, fortunate.

They’re a mere one sport out of first place within the damaged AFC East due to the 3-2 Payments’ loss to the Texans on Sunday, the 2-3 Dolphins’ injury-ravaged quarterback state of affairs and the 1-4 Patriots, the worst group within the league.

The Jets’ subsequent sport comes towards the 3-2 Payments, Monday evening at MetLife Stadium, the place a victory would put them in first place within the division at 3-3 and with the tiebreaker over Buffalo.

“I’m not panicked,” Saleh stated Monday. “No person within the constructing is panicked. There’s at all times going to be a way of urgency to go on the market and discover wins and discover effectivity on offense and proceed to play nice protection and particular groups.

“However Monday evening’s an incredible alternative to play soccer and do our greatest and attempt to get the end result that we’re searching for.”

It’s early. Too early to panic. However that doesn’t excuse the way in which his group has carried out the previous two weeks. Apart from proper sort out Morgan Moses having missed the previous two video games with a knee harm, the offense is wholesome.

The fan base is pissed off, and it has a proper to be. Sure, the Vikings have been 4-0 getting into Sunday, and sure, Sam Darnold was taking part in in addition to any quarterback within the league.

However the protection did its job and restricted the Minnesota offense. The shortage of creativity and effectivity of the offense is troublesome to look at.

“I stated it final week — the NFL is constructed for chaos,” Saleh stated. “Both the sky is falling otherwise you’ve acquired Tremendous Bowl aspirations [and] there’s no in-between anymore. The fact is what the standings appear like now are going to be utterly completely different on the finish of the season.

“There’s a lot soccer to be performed. There [are] so many issues that we are able to get higher at and there’s so many issues that we are able to proceed to construct on, the issues that we’re doing nicely.”

Rodgers, after the loss to the Vikings, stated he nonetheless has “lots of confidence on this group.’’

He additionally insisted, “I feel it’s a group that’s going to make a run.’’

The 2024 Mets made their run.

Can the 2024 Jets do the identical?