The run.
The Jets, throughout their five-game shedding streak, which they lastly put to a merciful finish Thursday with a win over the Texans, stored speaking about making a run to vault themselves into the playoff dialog.
Right here’s the factor about runs. You’ll be able to speak all you need about them. However to be able to get on a run, you’ve acquired to win video games. One by one. When you’ve strung a couple of wins collectively, then you definitely’re on a run.
The Jets, to this point, haven’t confirmed themselves to be run-worthy. That would, in fact, change. However till additional discover, we’re in a wait-and-see mode.
The Jets, coming off a sport few thought they might lose two weeks in the past in New England towards the lowly Patriots, gained a sport many didn’t imagine they may when, at 2-6 and with their season on the brink, they beat the 6-2 Texans Thursday evening.
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After a calamity-cluttered first half, they appeared pretty much as good as they’ve appeared all season within the closing half-hour of that Houston sport.
So … there’s hope.
Now: Reset.
The Jets are coming off a mini-bye with the weekend off following their win over Houston and on Wednesday, they return to the sector for the primary time to organize for Sunday’s sport towards the Cardinals in Arizona.
A Cardinals group, it ought to be famous, that was in all probability thought-about a comparatively simple win on that supposed run based mostly on their latest historical past as a shedding franchise.
The Cardinals, although, are 5-4 and main the NFC West and hardly appear like a finger roll to the glass for the Jets as they attempt to put collectively that run they’ve been speaking about.
The perfect factor the Jets can do proper now’s overlook about any run and go win a sport on Sunday.
As a result of a win over the Cardinals would get them to 4-6 after which they’d be a legit a part of the dialog as a possible AFC wild-card playoff group.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, talking Tuesday throughout his weekly paid spot on “The Pat McAfee Present,” was requested about that run and looking out on the large image.
“I really feel like it’s important to,” Rodgers mentioned. “This league and the cliché the place they all the time inform you one sport at a time, sooner or later at a time, I feel human nature is about having a singular give attention to the duty this week, but additionally to know what’s forward of you down the street.”
It’s a good and sincere assertion from Rodgers, however a precarious place, coming from a group that’s gained back-to-back video games as soon as this season — towards the Titans (who’re 2-6) and the Patriots (2-7).
The trick for the Jets this week is to breed the shape they’d within the second half towards the Texans — scoring three touchdowns on offense and harassing Houston’s offense with their ferocious move rush.
Rodgers was 15 of 18 for 179 yards and three touchdowns in that flawless second half. The protection held Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud to simply 11 of 30 and sacked him eight instances within the sport.
“We mentioned it [last] week — it takes one win to get this factor began, and we acquired it,’’ Jets proper deal with Morgan Moses mentioned this week. “Now it’s as much as us to take the momentum.’’
Week 9 and even Week 10 are a bit too early for scoreboard watching, however the Jets had a great Sunday whereas they relaxed on their mini-bye, with a few fellow AFC wild-card contenders Indianapolis (4-5) and Denver (5-4) shedding.
This week might present the Jets with extra potential excellent news about their opponents for a wild-card spot, with the Bengals (4-5) taking part in the 6-3 Ravens, the Colts taking part in the 7-2 Payments and the Broncos taking part in the 8-0 Chiefs.
All three of these groups are underdogs in these video games. All three shedding can be extremely useful to the Jets’ trigger, however provided that they handle their very own enterprise and beat the Cardinals.
That’ll take constructing on the issues they did effectively towards Houston, and tightening up their run protection towards a stout speeding group within the Cardinals.
Excessive-energy linebacker Quincy Williams mentioned this week what came about towards Houston was “a glimpse of what’s to come back’’ for the Jets.
Present us. Win the following sport. Make it two in a row.
Then we will discuss runs.
