With four games to play in their 2024 NFL season and no postseason action come January, Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Monday that he, his staff and the players' focus is simple: it's a tale of the tape.
"The tape that we put out for this final four games, and the tape that we put out always, regardless of circumstance," Ulbrich said the morning after the Jets' 32-26 overtime loss at Miami. "I know I said this, and I'll say it again, there is no context to tape. There is none. So the tape that you put on is you, it's every player in this organization, it's every coach in this organization.
"So that, in itself, keeps you motivated. You know, you are demonstrating who you are every day when that tape goes on, and you got to put your best foot forward, because ultimately, no one cares what your record was. Nobody cares what the score of the game was. When we get evaluated as players and coaches, the tape is all that matters. So we got to keep going."
After a 2-1 start to the season, the Jets (3-10) have lost 9 of 10 games, with 7 of those defeats coming by an average of only 3.6 points, which includes a handful of losses by single digits and frustration in the fourth quarter. Ulbrich said that he does not plan to alter his approach when it comes to the players on the field, beginning Sunday when the Jets travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars (3-10).
"We got to put the best unit out there that gives us the best opportunity to win," Ulbrich said. "And I think every player, every coach, will appreciate that. I think sometimes when you start playing with the roster a lot, especially at the back end of the season, that can be discouraging to some players. So, we got to make sure we put the best group out there to win."
On Sunday, QB Aaron Rodgers completed 27 of 39 for 339 yards and 1 TD for a 104.5 passer rating and led an offense that totaled 402 yards. Even though Rodgers and the offense converted 2 of 5 opportunities in the red zone, he sprayed the ball around to seven receivers with Garrett Wilson (7/114) and Davante Adams (9/109) each eclipsing 100 yards receiving.
"I thought it was his best performance of the year," Ulbrich said of Rodgers. "You know, I thought he did a very good job. And obviously the statistics would support that. He had an excellent day. I thought the offense had probably the best performance of the year."
He added: "There's some untimely penalties there that got us behind the sticks, which just can't happen. And a couple of execution things. For as good as offense was, I know that they would have liked to have been better in the red zone. You'd like to finish those drives and finish that game saying all of that. I thought the offense did absolutely enough to win that game."
