The Jets' 2024 season has been one of ups and downs. With a 3-9 record, the players insist there is still plenty to play for over the final 5 games on the schedule.
"It has been a tough year and a tough stretch, but the main thing is that we all just stick together," LB Jamien Sherwood said. "Even with all this adversity and chaos going on, we still walk into the building and see smiles across people's faces."
The Jets have lost 7 of their last 8. Six of their 9 losses have come by single digits, including Sunday's loss to Seattle, 26-21.
"There has been a ton of pressure on this building," Sherwood said. "But pressure makes diamonds. We have been losing but the games aren't as if we are just getting blown away. Everything is coming down to the final drives. That still gives me confidence in myself and my teammates."
The Jets final stretch of games consists of trips to Miami (Week 14), Jacksonville (Week 15) and Buffalo (Week 17) ,and home games against the Rams (Week 16) and Dolphins (Week 18). LG John Simpson, who leads the team with an 81.8 PFF grade, is excited about getting back on the field.
"I play for my brothers," Simpson said. "Everyone I play with on this team, I consider my brothers. I would feel like a letdown to them if I didn't play my best every snap that I could and try to execute to the best of my abilities. I play for my why and put my best foot forward when I can."
Praise for the Jets' Unsung Performers
While talking to reporters Monday, Jets LB Quincy Williams offered praise for a few of his less-heralded teammates, guys who had a sizable impact on the game against the Seahawks in Week 13.
"I got something to say," Williams said at the end of his press conference. "I want to give a shout out to my guys Kene [Nwangwu], Isaiah [Davis] and Irv [Charles]."
Charles, a wide receiver and specialist for New York, registered a pair of tackles on punt coverage. Nwangwu, who was elevated to the active roster from the p-squad Saturday, forced a fumble that the Jets converted into a touchdown in the first quarter and returned a kickoff 99 yards for score early in the second quarter. And Davis scored the first touchdown of his NFL career on shovel pass from QB Aaron Rodgers from 4 yards out.
"My dog Irv had 3 people on the first punt and still go down there to make a tackle," Williams said. "Isaiah has been balling at practice and as soon as he gets in, he gets a touchdown. And Kene is one of my guys. Whenever I need work at running back, he is always there to help. … I am just very excited about those guys."
Jeff Ulbrich, the interim head coach, added: "They earn the opportunity to play, we're going to absolutely give them an opportunity to play, like Isaiah Davis and Kene are two. They stand for all the right stuff, like to get a window into their world, I mean they're two of the better practice players I've ever been around, ever. Player, coach, my 20-plus years in this league, so it's just a great opportunity to reward great behavior, especially in times like these."
Addressing the Penalties
The Jets were penalized 12 times for 83 yards against Seattle on Sunday. After reviewing the film, Jeff Ulbrich called the number of preventable penalties unacceptable.
"We had the offside and obviously, the 12 men, those are indefensible," Ulbrich said. "And I'll take part of the credit for that for sure. The horse collar to me, that's an aggressive penalty. Sometimes just in a scrum like that, things like that happen. … We can play it better. There were a few that were aggressive that, we're always going to be able to live with and there's a couple in there that are totally unacceptable."
The Jets were flagged 8 times in the fourth quarter, including 4 on Seattle's game-winning TD drive. The attention in practice leading to next Sunday's matchup at Miami will be on limiting the mental errors.
"We need to leave no doubt when it comes to penalties," All-Pro LB Quincy Williams said. "We don't want to put it in the hands of the referees. We have to be consistent because we are only hurting ourselves."
