The NY Jets have a culture problem and it starts with Robert Saleh

The NY Jets have an accountability problem. It's an issue that's realistically plagued the franchise for the better part of the last couple of decades, but it's become an increasingly prominent headache in the Robert Saleh era.

That much was on full display following the Jets' embarrassing 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The loss marked the 35th loss in Saleh's head-coaching career, bringing his Jets win-loss record to a lowly 20-35 in a little over three seasons.

Among active head coaches with at least 30 games under their belt, only Dennis Allen and Matt Eberflus have worse winning percentages. Saleh has a few signature wins during his time with the Jets, but they've almost all been followed up by a dud of a performance the following week.

The Jets secured what should have been a narrative-altering 24-3 win over their arch-rival New England Patriots last week. What did the Jets do with the 10 days of rest they were afforded after that game?

They showed up ill-prepared for a home matchup against a Bo Nix-led Broncos team that managed 60 passing yards yet still pulled out the upset win. Ultimate triumph succeeded by disappointing letdowns. That's been the Saleh story.

Robert Saleh and the NY Jets continue to lack accountability after another ugly loss

Sunday's 10-9 loss to the Broncos was the same narrative. The Jets fell flat instead of taking care of business against a Broncos team they were favored to beat by over a touchdown. This Jets team doesn't know how to "handle business." They fold in the face of expectations.

What's even more startling is the extreme lack of accountability the team showed after the loss, and that starts and ends with Saleh. The fourth-year head coach offered up a familiar word salad of a response when asked what went wrong for his team in Week 4.

"We had a great week of prep. Felt great energy pregame and even at halftime … the reality is it was going to be tough sledding no matter what because of the rain. What was disappointing was the self-inflicted wounds."

- Robert Saleh

Saleh insisted the Jets had a "great week of prep" and that he loved the team's energy before and during the game. He then placed blame on the rainy weather before finally pointing the finger at his own team.

That can't be the message you send to your locker room following this game. Not after 55 career games. Not after 35 losses.

Saleh was at a loss for words when asked about his team's 13 penalties for a whopping 90 yards in Sunday's game. All he could muster up was that the Jets still have "got to figure it out." No solution — just empty promises.

It's the same sentiment Saleh has been offering for years at this point. The Jets rank fourth-worst in the NFL in total penalty yards allowed so far this season. They had nine more penalties than any other team in 2023. They were sixth in penalty yards in 2022 as well.

This has been an issue essentially every year of Saleh's tenure. At a certain point the words ring hollow. Saleh can insist the team needs to figure it out all he wants. The reality is they haven't and aren't fixing anything.

These empty promises extend to the players in the locker room, where the total lack of accountability is especially prevalent.

Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker refused to acknowledge the offensive line's putrid game when speaking to reporters on Sunday. Vera-Tucker insisted the offensive line "played [their] asses off," before advising anyone who disagrees to "go back and look at the tape."

That tape would show the Jets allowing five sacks and 14 QB hits on Aaron Rodgers. It would show an offensive line that paved the way for just 2.8 yards per carry on the ground. The Jets' offensive line was thoroughly whooped on Sunday, but the players continue to deflect blame.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner took to social media after the game to argue with fans while boasting about his own stats. In response to online fan criticism, Gardner, in a since-deleted tweet, proudly pointed out that he missed no tackles on Sunday and didn’t surrender a catch.

This is not a serious football team. Well-coached teams don't point fingers and shrug their shoulders after a loss like this. They don't boast about their individual accomplishments and refuse to take accountability.

The Jets are not a well-coached team, and it's becoming painfully obvious with each passing week. The bad news is the Jets' next three opponents — the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, and Pittsburgh Steelers — are three of the best-coached teams in the NFL.

Saleh was brought in to change the culture in Florham Park. He's the tone-setter — the individual whose identity the entire organization takes on.

Right now, that identity is a losing identity. It's a sense of passivity. Some might even confuse it for apathy. The Jets lack accountability, and Robert Saleh is the architect of a culture that’s fostering complacency.

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