The Jets had very faint playoff hopes entering Week 15. They were still mathematically alive. But a 30-0 loss to the Miami Dolphins was a prophetic way for the Jets to officially be eliminated from playoff contention.
Several factors that led to yet another disappointing season for the New York Jets, one that will end with their eighth straight losing season and 13th straight without a postseason appearance. Here are just a few of the reasons why the Jets will once again be watching the playoffs from home.
Aaron Rodgers injury
The Jets put all their eggs into Aaron Rodgers’ basket this offseason only to watch as Rodgers would suffer a torn Achilles just four plays into his Jets debut against the Buffalo Bills. The Jets tailored their offense around Rodgers, even brining in offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett thanks to his history with Rodgers in Green Bay.
The Jets struggled to create any sort of offense behind any other quarterback, including Zach Wilson. They wanted Aaron Rodgers bad and never had much of a backup plan.
Coaching and playcalling did Zach Wilson no favors
Despite designing their offense around Aaron Rodgers, the Jets kept preaching they believed in Zach Wilson and would do anything to help him develop. They had a funny way of showing they were committed to helping Wilson develop.
Sure, they stuck with him as long as they possibly could before they had almost no choice but to bench him following a disastrous outing in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills. However, the coaching, the coddling and the playcalling from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett did Wilson zero favors.
For the longest time, there was no creativity on offense. Run on first down, run on second down, pass on third down became as predictable as the sun rising every morning. The Jets hardly let Wilson be aggressive and throw downfield. That changed for a short time in Week 14 against the Texans, but it was right back to their old ways in Week 15.
Wilson wasn’t perfect by any means, but Hackett and Robert Saleh never capitalized on what worked against teams like the Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. As a result, the 2023 Jets will go down as one of the worst offenses ever.
The offensive line was a major disaster
The Jets have started 11 different offensive line combinations in 14 games this season. Injuries have ravaged the Jets yet again. The lack of depth was exposed and that’s a direct reflection on general manager Joe Douglas and offensive line coach Keith Carter.
Yes, injuries can be tough to overcome sometimes. But look at a team like the Cleveland Browns. Their excellent right tackle Jack Conklin went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. Left tackle Jedrick Wills has been out since Week 9 and just underwent season-ending knee surgery.
Cleveland also has seen injuries to left guard Joel Bitonio and center Ethan Pocic. Heck, they’re playing with Joe Flacco as their quarterback. Yet, the Browns are 9-5 and in good shape to make the playoffs.
The Jets? They couldn’t block themselves out of a wet paper bag. The biggest culprit right now isn’t even one of their backups. It’s starting left tackle Mekhi Becton. Even left guard Laken Tomlinson has been a liability.
Quarterback Zach Wilson took some heat for reportedly being reluctant to return to the starting lineup after being benched. His worst fears were realized Sunday. He was sacked four times and left the game with a concussion.
The Jets need a major offensive line overhaul in the offseason. Fortunately, there are two excellent options in the draft in Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Notre Dame’s Joe Alt. Will the Jets actually take one of them? We’ll see.
Their big-money free-agent wide receiver has not worked out
The Jets signed wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year contract worth $44 million with $22 million guaranteed. Through 15 weeks, that contract has gotten the Jets 23 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown. All rank fourth on the team. Lazard was also a healthy scratch in Week 12 against the Dolphins and went without a catch in three games.
Lazard doesn’t have a single game this season with more than three catches and has cracked 50 yards just once all year — 61 yards and his lone touchdown of the season in Week 4 against the Chiefs.
The Jets are likely committed to Lazard in 2024 — his $10 million base salary is guaranteed. His contract would be very tough to move if the Jets were to look to trade Lazard.
Of course, the Jets could also believe Lazard will rise up next season with a healthy Aaron Rodgers, one of, if not the biggest reason Lazard signed with the Jets. But another season like this one and Lazard won’t be around in 2025.
No other wide receiver truly stepped up outside Garrett Wilson
Allen Lazard hasn’t worked out this season and the Jets also weren’t able to find a consistent option this season as a running mate to Garrett Wilson. The Jets signed wide receiver Randall Cobb, another Aaron Rodgers buddy. Cobb has played nine games and has all of four catches for 35 yards. Dalvin Cook and Michael Carter have more receiving yards than Cobb.
Just like last season, tight end Tyler Conklin has stepped up as the second-leading receiver for the Jets behind Garrett Wilson. Conklin has 50 catches for 524 yards. Wilson leads the way with 79 catches for 882 yards and three touchdowns, tied with Breece Hall for the team lead.
Hall is third on the team in receiving with 53 catches and 441 yards, followed by Lazard. Xavier Gipson was thought to be taking over as the No. 3 or even No. 2 receiver at times, but the Jets haven’t found ways to get him involved in the offense. The undrafted rookie has just 16 catches for 191 yards. He does have a rushing touchdown.
Quarterback play and offensive line struggles certainly are a factor in the receivers not putting up big numbers, but at some point, someone has to take pressure off of Garrett Wilson.
The Jets stood pat at the trade deadline
The Jets actually had a winning record at the trade deadline. Following a 13-10 win over the New York Giants in Week 8, the Jets were sitting at 4-3 and were in the hunt for a wild card spot. However, there were questions about quarterback Zach Wilson and the offensive line. Many felt the Jets could have grabbed Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (pre-Achilles injury), Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill or even then-Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs. The Jets grabbed nobody.
The Jets stood pat at the trade deadline for one reason or another, perhaps a sign they were still believers in the offense and Wilson or perhaps a sign they wanted to keep things status quo for Aaron Rodgers.
Either way, their lack of attempt to improve the roster at the midway point of the season has helped turn a 4-3 record into a 5-9 record.
