Following a five-game losing streak, it appeared the 2024 season was getting away from the Jets.
But following a 21-13 victory against the Texans on Thursday Night Football, the Jets hope that will create some positive momentum entering a new month.
“When you play like that I think it generates some confidence,” Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “It generates some momentum, so both those things are going to be integral, and going forward, there was some hope too, prior to that second half, so sometimes when you put it together, it creates some ‘we can really get this done,’ so it’s something that I really believe will carry us forward here.”
The Jets’ first nine weeks of the season were not optimal. They had five national television games, traveled to London, and played three games and 11 days twice.
In addition, Jets owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh and made Ulbrich the interim coach. Ulbrich then changed offensive play-callers, the Jets traded for wide receiver Davante Adams while trying to establish his culture in hopes of getting the Jets back on track.
During that time, a few Jet players suffered injuries, including Aaron Rodgers, who has been dealing with a knee bruise, low ankle sprain, and a hamstring ailment. But in the second half of the win against the Texans, Rodgers played his best football since the win against the Patriots on Sept. 19.
After struggling most of the season and in the first half against Houston, Gang Green scored three consecutive touchdown drives of 70-plus yards in the second half.
Rodgers also completed 22-of-33 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Not only did the Jets offense played well in the second half, but so did their defense. They sacked Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud eight times, and Will McDonald and Haason Reddick harassed him most of the night.
“It’s more flipping the pressure into confidence and momentum like I’ve spoke to before,” Ulbrich said. “I think there’s a big difference between the two.
“In my opinion, there’s production that sometimes you can have in these moments, and it allows you to work that much harder and check that many more boxes, and be that much more thorough in everything that we do, but sometimes it can be suffocating, so sometimes a little success like this can translate and transition that stress into more positive energy and confidence, which hopefully we’ll create on the steam right now.”
Now, the Jets’ schedule will become slightly less strenuous at the back of the season. They will play only two games in November [at Cardinals and vs. Colts], with a bye in Week 12. Gang Green also has only one scheduled primetime time in Week 11 on Sunday Night Football against the Colts, which could be flexed.
At 3-6, the Jets’ road to the playoffs is still an uphill battle, with the margin for error close to zero. However, at least one team has reached the playoffs after starting 3-6 or worse through nine games in each of the past four seasons.
“Hopefully, this gives us confidence that we can beat anybody because we feel like we could,” Rodgers said after Thursday’s game. “The way we played on offense in the second half is the way we’ve been kind of waiting for this offense to wake up.
“I know, obviously, I was as close to perfection as I needed to be, but that’s the standard I need to play at. And guys, there’s a lot of really incredible performances.
“We did a lot of good things in the second half. We’ve got to build off of that, but hopefully, that kind of lets everybody, like you said, exhale a little bit. Now we’ve got a little time off and get a trip to Arizona.”
NO NEW INJURIES
On Friday morning, Ulbrich did not have an update on the status of cornerback Michael Carter II, and offensive linemen Jake Hanson and John Simpson.
Carter exited Thursday’s game with a back injury. He also suffered a back injury during pregame warmups before the Jets’ loss against the Vikings on Oct. 6. Simpson left the game during the second quarter with a groin injury and did not return. Hanson also suffered a hamstring injury right before halftime, which forced the Jets to have some unusual offensive line combinations.
Rookie tackle Olu Fashanu, who cross-trained at right and left tackle during the preseason — played right guard, a position he had never done in the NFL, college, or even high school. Max Mitchell, the Jets backup tackle, played at left guard after Simpson went out.
“Remarkable is one of the only words I can give it,” Ulbrich said about Fashanu moving to guard. “Here’s a guy that, minus walkthrough reps, and minus drill work at practice, that’s his only exposure to this position.
“No live reps, no team reps, and to go in there and function like he did, it’s unbelievable, just a testament to the young man he is.”
