Taking Stock of New York Jets Ahead of Week 5 Bye

The New York Jets are in a better position than most people expected them to be in at this point in the season.

With a new head coach in Todd Bowles, a new coaching staff and shake-ups across the roster, the Jets were thought to be in a transition year. 

Through four games, though, the talent on the roster is trumping expectations, and the team is among the NFL's early season surprises. There are many reasons for the success: competent quarterback play, a dominant running game, a stifling defense and a talented group of skill position players who are producing the kind of results the Jets hoped for.

The big question is whether the Jets can keep it up; however, based on the first four games of the season, the future is bright.

Ryan Fitzpatrick Is an Effective Game Manager

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Ryan Fitzpatrick is not good enough to be the reason the Jets win games, but through four games, only once has he been bad enough to be the reason they lost. With that in mind, we can call Fitzpatrick an effective game manager. 

His stat line isn't particularly impressive; through four games, he has completed 88 of his 145 pass attempts (60.7 percent) for 924 yards (6.4 yards per attempt), seven touchdowns, six interceptions and a 78.1 passer rating. That's strikingly similar to Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill's stat line: 97-of-171 (56.7 percent), 1,080 yards (6.3 YPA), seven touchdowns, five interceptions, 77.1 passer rating.

But with the Jets defense playing at a high level and with a dominant running game behind him, Fitzpatrick's play has been enough to keep the team on course to victory. That's the difference between 1-3 and 3-1, as the Jets and Dolphins both found out on Sunday at Wembley Stadium. 

The Jets Offense Has Not Lost Its Rushing Identity Under Chan Gailey

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The Jets offense looked lost without Chris Ivory in Week 3, but they found themselves immediately upon his return. 

Ivory clocked 166 rushing yards on 29 carries (5.7 yards per carry) and scored a touchdown in the Jets' 27-14 beatdown of the Dolphins in London. Through four games (of which he has played three), Ivory has 63 carries, 314 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. Those numbers are all easily on pace for career highs. 

It's not just the amount of yards the Ivory is accumulating. It's how he's accumulating them—by plowing through defenders and picking up more yards than he probably should. Among the league's top 50 backs, Ivory ranks second in yards after contact at 3.27 per clip, according to Pro Football Focus. He also ranks second in total missed tackles as a rusher with 16. 

And you thought the running game was destined to become an afterthought under offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. In fact, Gailey's ability to effectively run the ball was the reason head coach Todd Bowles brought him on board. 

With Ivory running this effectively, there is a lot less pressure on Fitzpatrick to carry the offense than there was in his last stop as a starter with the Buffalo Bills. The Jets would be foolish not to continue handing the ball to Ivory. 

Same Old Dominant Defense Under Todd Bowles

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The Jets went from one defensive guru as their head coach to another, and there appears to be no drop-off in the performance of that unit with the change in leadership. If anything, the defense is playing at a new level. 

Through four games, the Jets rank No. 1 in scoring defense (13.8 points per game) and No. 2 in total defense (280.2 yards per game). Of course, those rankings come with the caveat that they haven't faced any real tests this year so far—their biggest test was the Indianapolis Colts, who have stumbled out of the gate, to say the least.

Who knew that adding so much talent to the defense this offseason would have such a positive impact? Certainly not former Jets general manager John Idzik. But instead of super-gluing a defense together in the form of Antonio Allens and Jason Babins, the Jets have bona fide talent at almost every position on defense.

Cornerback Darrelle Revis, defensive lineman Leonard Williams and safety Marcus Gilchrist have all been positive additions to the defense, but Bowles' aggressive mentality has played well into the hands of his personnel. According to Pro Football Focus, the Jets have blitzed on 83 of a possible 160 pass plays—including 35 out of 48 pass plays against the Dolphins on Sunday. 

Under Bowles' guidance, and with more talent at his disposal than his predecessor Rex Ryan, the Jets defense has flown right back to the top of the NFL rankings. 

Brandon Marshall Bouncing Back in Big Way

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Brandon Marshall is on his fourth team in the past seven years, but he's been productive in every uniform he's worn and nearly every season he's played. He posted at least 80 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards each season from 2009 to 2013. Then, 2014 happened. The Chicago Bears went into the toilet, and Marshall's play took a step back as he finished with just 61 receptions and 721 yards in 13 games.

Fast-forward through four games and Marshall is right back on track in 2015, with 30 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns. He is on pace for 120 receptions, 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has posted no less than 100 receiving yards in each of the past three games and finally was held without a touchdown in Week 4 for the first time this season. 

In 2013, the Jets were trotting Stephen Hill and Santonio Holmes onto the field as their top two receivers. Who knew way back then that the Jets could call their wide receiver depth chart a strength? Between Marshall and Eric Decker, the Jets have finally found their one-two punch of big, physical, athletic receivers to create big plays in the passing game.

Whether it's Ryan Fitzpatrick or Geno Smith at the trigger, the Jets offense looks to be in good hands with Marshall running routes. 

Upcoming Schedule Is Kind to the Jets

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The Jets are in a good spot at 3-1. Coming up in the next month, they have a home game against the Washington Redskins (2-2) followed by two road games against the New England Patriots (3-0) and Oakland Raiders (2-2) before returning home to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3). 

Those games aren't necessarily cupcakes, but the Jets' degree of difficulty is not exceedingly high in the four weeks following the bye week. 

The worst you can expect is for the Jets to be 4-4, but that's only if they come out flat after the bye and are exposed in some way. It's possible, if not likely, that the Jets will be above .500 after their next four games with a record of 5-3 or even 6-2. 

If that happens, it would be the first time since 2011 that the Jets are above .500 at the midseason mark and would also mark their return to the playoff discussion. 

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.