Jets are maddeningly inconsistent when it matters most

Despite the New York Jets dominant win over the Broncos, they remain a frustrating and inconsistent team.

Say what you will about the New York Jets, but they are never boring. The Jets, like the city they represent, are an emotional roller coaster. One moment they look like a potential playoff team, the next moment they look like the worst team in the league.

The Jets opened this season with an overwhelming win over the Lions in Detroit. The Jets’ rebuilt secondary amassed five interceptions, and it looked like the team might be poised to surprise a lot of people this season.

Any Jets fans who left Week 1 feeling hopeful quickly had their optimism tempered. Over the next three weeks, the Jets completely collapsed. They lost winnable games to the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns and were destroyed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Along the way, the Jets offense was held under 20 points in all three games.

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While frustrating, the Jets’ struggles made sense. They are a young team led by a rookie quarterback. The fans recognized that 2018 would probably be a rebuilding year, and they prepared for the worst.

And then the Week 1 Jets showed up again.

Facing the Broncos at home, the Jets had a banner Sunday. Isaiah Crowell, who had no rushing yards the previous week, set the franchise record for most rushing yards in a game.

Robby Anderson, who had only scored one touchdown through Week 4, found the end zone twice. And the Jets, a team that looked destined to finish in the division cellar, won 34-16.

If you look at the overall season through five weeks, the Jets are 2-3. In their 3 losses, they were outscored by 31 points and have a -1 turnover differential. In their 2 wins, they outscored opponents by 49 points and have a +2 turnover differential.

Which version of the Jets will show up next Sunday against the Colts? Your guess is as good as mine. The Jets have always been an inconsistent team with Todd Bowles, and that doesn’t look to change anytime soon.

So if you’re a Jets fan, the only advice this writer can offer is approach each game with a guarded optimism, enjoying whatever wins come but bracing yourself for the inevitable collapse afterward.