Patriots vs. Jets: Lackluster Play Proves Jets Not Worthy of Playoff Spot

The New York Jets continue to prove head coach Rex Ryan is blindly throwing around confidence.

They've beaten two bad teams in the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins, two inconsistent teams in the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers and a Buffalo Bills team that just lost to the Cowboys, 44-7.

The one advantage the Jets had against the New England Patriots in Week 10, a strong pass defense, was buried by Tom Brady. Brady went on to toss for 329 yards and three touchdowns at MetLife Stadium on Sunday as the Patriots routed the Jets, 37-16.

Ryan and the Jets continue to declare they are an elite team, but whenever they face a top team like the Patriots or Baltimore Ravens, they are embarrassed.

Part of the reason is Ryan's undying support of quarterback Mark Sanchez. On Sunday against the Patriots, Sanchez simply looked bad. He passed for 306 yards, but he went just 20-of-39 with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Ryan and the Jets continue to be unwavering in their support of Sanchez, but the truth is they are simply hoping Sanchez turns it around at this point. He's been in the league long enough, with a good enough defense, to be set up for success, but he continually lets the team down.

But it's not just Sanchez. It seems like there's always a unit that disappoints when it comes to the big games this season. Whether it was the running game in the beginning of the season or the offensive line in Week 10, this team isn't playing like an elite team as a whole.

Ryan was bristly when former Jets great Joe Namath criticized the team earlier this season, saying too much confidence could be a bad thing.

Said Namath on the Michael Kay Show, via Pro Football Talk:

"

It’s rather alarming. It starts at the top. Coach Rex Ryan, he’s been doing a great job, getting us to two conference championship games, but there’s one thing about the athlete: You keep telling him how good he is, he’s going to start believing it to the point that he may not be preparing quite the way he should.

"

Right now, it's looking like Namath was right. A glaring problem, like Sanchez, doesn't just go away with enough confidence.

The best explanation for the Jets' 5-4 start?

They simply don't have what it takes to be an elite team.