New York Jets Lack the Instincts of a Winner

Oct 12, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

There is a lot that can be said about Rex Ryan’s bunch. Some argue that the quarterback isn’t good enough to get the job done. There is discussion about the lack of improvement in the secondary, specifically at cornerback. Why didn’t John Idzik do enough to help the Jets? Have we hit the end of the line for Rex Ryan? The questions and concerns about the Jets continue to mount, seemingly every day.

Despite all of that, the Jets have been in almost every game in 2014. Aside from the game against the San Diego Chargers, the Jets have had a chance to win every game they have played. But they haven’t. They haven’t won any, except for the game against the Raiders.

Why might this be? The reason is the Jets lack something that all consistently winning teams have. They lack the INSTINCTS of a winner.

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback

(12) evades the tackle of New York Jets outside linebacker

(98) during the second quarter of a game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The story began when the Jets took on the Packers. The Jets went up 21-3 and looked like they were about to shock the world. The offense was clicking, and the Packers were doing nothing against the Jets defense. The Jets looked like world beaters. But, the Jets never took the Packers out of it. They could never put up that one score that would have put the game out of reach, and they eventually lost.

Good teams can put a team away. Mediocre teams can’t.

Sep 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback

(6) hands off to running back

(22) during the third quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Chicago Bears won 27-19. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The next week, the Jets faced the Chicago Bears. They fell behind 17-3, before a late second quarter touchdown brought the gap to 17-13. To their credit, the Jets were able to make this a game. But, could they ever score that equalizer, that touchdown to give themselves the lead? No, instead they kicked three field goals in the second half, losing the game by eight. The Jets couldn’t finish the job. A good team can.

Sep 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback

(9) runs with the ball Detroit in the second half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

The next week, the Jets played host to the Detroit Lions. Again the Jets fell behind early, also 17-3. To their credit, the Jets fought back in the second half, and were within a touchdown at 24-17. But, the offense could not bring that final drive together to bring the game to a tie. Instead, they fell by the 24-17 score. The Jets couldn’t hang on to momentum long enough to tie the game.

Good teams can do this.

Oct 12, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback

(18) passes against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

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And we have the most recent game against the Broncos. The Jets clawed their way back into the game, being down 24-7, all the way back to 24-17. The Jets had the ball, down 24-17, with the chance to tie the game. A good team, with the instincts of a winner, can hold onto that momentum and put together the necessary series to tie the game. The Jets couldn’t do that, so they lost yet again.

You can put blame on a lack of talent. You can blame an offense that has its moments, but doesn’t have a lot of chemistry. You can blame it on their not being a big play threat that the Jets can count on in a pinch. But the major issue is the fact that the Jets current roster doesn’t have the killer instinct, the instinct to take over a game, and win it when it counts.

Good teams have that instinct. The Jets don’t. Enough said.