Jets vs. Ravens: Why Gang Green Will Miss Playoffs This Year

The thought process of Jets fans at the beginning of the year was trying to beat the Patriots and winning the division. Now making the playoffs is a huge question mark after last night’s game.  

Taking a look at the four Jets games this year you’ll see that in three of them they had as good of a chance to lose them than to win. Week 1 against the Cowboys should have been a loss if not for a Tony Romo meltdown in the fourth quarter. Week 2 against the Jaguars was a dominant win for the Jets; but the last two weeks have been nothing but a nightmare.  

Before this year the Jets were known as a team that was run first pass second. It was a method that worked for Rex Ryan-led Jets as it led them to two AFC wild card playoff berths and two AFC Championship game appearances.  

However, after two straight weeks of losses it seems as if this Jets team is destined to miss the 2011 NFL playoffs.  

Taking a look at their schedule, they have two games against the Patriots in five weeks and two games against Buffalo in six weeks. That’s two teams in their division that if they end up in losses would mean the season is over for these Jets.  

These two teams in the first four weeks have moved past the Jets as the teams that will represent the AFC East in the playoffs.  

Both of these teams can do the one thing that the Jets have not been able to do this year. 

Run the ball. 

After last night’s performance the Jets sunk down to 28th in the league in average rushing yards per game. The teams below them are Tampa, Indianapolis, Seattle and Tennessee. Two of those teams have yet to play in Week 3, and Tennessee still has a running back who gained 2,000 yards in a season.  

The Jets on the other hand have a banged up line, no real threat at running back, and a quarterback that last season had two 300-yard games; this year he has two in four games.  

The Jets are losing their definition as a team that will tire a defense out while letting their defense rest. If they are expecting to make a comeback this year for the playoffs and the division championship they have to find a way to run the ball.  

Until then, there will be a lot of questions and a Jets team that will miss out on the playoffs for the first time in Rex Ryan’s tenure. 

Twitter: @tjmcaloon