New York Jets: Is all hope lost after a disastrous start to the season?

To say that the New York Jets season hasn’t started as planned would be a complete understatement. With an 0-3 record, is there any reason for optimism?

It’s hard to convince people that a New York Jets team that is currently 0-3 can climb themselves out of that hole and be competitive. It isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible. Look no further than last season’s Houston Texans.

Last season, the Texans got off to an 0-3 start but finished with an 11-5 record and won the AFC South. Like the current Jets, the Texans were starting a second-year quarterback who was banged up at the start of the season.

Additionally, outside of the undefeated New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills are the only team in the AFC that has a winning record.

The bottom part of the AFC is wide open, which means the Jets should be able to contend for a wildcard spot if they can get their season turned around.

The first part of the Jets’ schedule is absolutely brutal. Their first three games came against the 3-1 Buffalo Bills, a very talented Cleveland Browns team, and a road game against the undefeated defending Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots.

The Jets next three games won’t be much easier, as they will have to play the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots once again.

However, the second half of the Jets schedule is extremely favorable. The Jets have the easiest remaining schedule in the entire league.

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If the Jets can find a way to remain afloat after their tough upcoming three-game stretch then the Jets will have the opportunity to do some serious damage.

The Jets have been absolutely ravaged by injuries. As we all know, Sam Darnold has only appeared in one game for the Jets. Additionally, the New York Jets have also lost Trevor Siemian and Quincy Enunwa for the entire season.

With the Siemian injury, the Jets were down to their third-string quarterback, Luke Falk. Do these injuries excuse the offense for only scoring three points over these past two games? Absolutely not, but we should expect more production when Darnold returns.

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• NY Jets expected to be ‘much more aggressive’ in free agency this year
• NY Jets: Patriots will not use the franchise tag on Joe Thuney
• NY Jets officially place the franchise tag on safety Marcus Maye

The Jets offense isn’t the only part of the team that’s been hampered by the injury bug. Two of the team’s most important defenders, C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams have both only appeared in one game this season.

The Jets first game of the season showcased how valuable Mosley is. Before the former Ravens linebacker was injured, the defense allowed just three points. There were two Buffalo drives after the injury, which both resulted in Bills touchdowns.

Quinnen Williams was the third player selected in the 2019 NFL Draft and many considered him to be the best player in the draft. Every team deals with injuries in the NFL, but it’s hard to find a team that’s been more affected by them than the Jets.

Jets fans should be very disappointed with the team’s 0-3 start. Injuries and the offensive struggles are both reasons why the Jets have yet to win a game so far this season. The return of Darnold will give the team hope.

It won’t be easy, but there’s still time for Gang Green to turn their season around.