New York Jets or Philadelphia Eagles: Which Franchise Is in More Dire Straits?

The New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles are two franchises that have severely underachieved so far in this 2012 NFL season, but which one is in the worse position moving forward?

For two teams thought to be contenders this season, the season has not gone as planned for a variety of reasons. Both franchises have serious fanbases that expect excellence each and every week—and will let the coaches and players alike know when they're dissatisfied. 

As of Week 8 in 2012, both fanbases' screams are deafening. 

Both teams have head coaches that are polarizing and perennial underachievers. Rex Ryan has allowed the Jets to be a circus rather than a contender, and Any Reid has once again allowed the Eagles to under-perform. 

Let's take a look at whether the Jets or the Eagles are worse off moving forward. 

The Case for the Jets

The Jets find themselves with a 3-5 record so far this season, having been embarrassed by great teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers, but beating up on teams like the Indianapolis Colts. 

Defensively, the New York is getting gashed on the ground and giving up well over 20 points per game. On offense, Rex Ryan cannot decide what he wants the team to do, whether it be run a tradition offense with Mark Sanchez, or a gimmick, momentum-killing offense with Tim Tebow. 

New York is in trouble because Ryan has allowed the once-elite defense to age and ownership appears more interested in bringing in a name like Tebow to generate revenue rather than building a roster to contend for championships. 

Moving forward, the Jets have a lot of work to do, starting with the head coach and quarterback positions. 

The Case for the Eagles

Philadelphia continues to lose games thanks to the erratic play of quarterback Micheal Vick, a quarterback that is dangerously close to losing his job to a rookie thanks to his nine fumbles and eight interceptions in seven games. 

The Eagles are as erratic as their quarterback with a 3-4 record, showing up big against the New York Giants but being blown out of the water by a team like the Atlanta Falcons. 

Behind an elite running back in LeSean McCoy, the Eagles have managed to put together an impressive offensive unit that is merely hindered by the quarterback. The defense is an above average unit that can keep the team in games as long as the offense actually manages to find the end zone. 

The immediate future for the Eagles will hinge on Reid's decision between Michael Vick and rookie Nick Foles. Who he chooses to lead the offense from here on out will have a lasting impact on the 2012 season. 

Verdict 

The Eagles are in a much better situation than the Jets right now. The team can hang with the big boys when everything is clicking, and a postseason appearance is not out of the question in 2012. There's elite talent littered around the roster, things simply have to come together. 

The same cannot be said for the Jets.

There's minimal talent on the Jets' roster, from the quarterback position all the way down. Injuries haven't helped things, as players like Darrelle Revis are out for the year. New York has no explosive offensive weapons, and the defense is aging and a few years away from being an-above average unit. 

As mentioned earlier, the little brother in the Big Apple is striving for attention and headlines more than a contender. The "me too" attitude in the Jets organization has sunk the team's chances of making the postseason in 2012. 

A rebuilding phase in New York may be in the cards. Philadelphia has a bright future compared to the abysmal things occurring to the Meadowlands' lesser team. 

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