Robert Saleh’s message was clear: This time subsequent yr ought to be totally different for the New York Jets.
His banged-up workforce didn’t put up a lot offense in an 11-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the Jets’ sixth straight loss to finish a franchise-record twelfth straight season and not using a playoff look.
However the protection didn’t enable a landing. And Saleh is assured that subsequent season, the Jets shall be in a position to execute the one or two performs wanted to be the distinction in successful and shedding essential late-season video games.
“We had our opportunities,” stated Saleh, who accomplished his second season with the Jets. “Didn’t work out the way we wanted it to for whatever reasons you want to give, but next year, we’re going to be in this exact opportunity and it’s going to be about finishing.”
New York (7-10) failed to rating a landing for the third straight sport and completed final in the AFC East for the third yr in a row and sixth time in seven years.
It was a disappointing collapse for a workforce that began the season 7-4 with wins over Inexperienced Bay, Miami, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. The Jets then dropped video games to Minnesota, Buffalo, Detroit and Jacksonville and have been eradicated from the playoffs with a Week 17 loss to Seattle.
“You know, I say sorry to everybody,” Saleh stated, naming proprietor Woody Johnson and others in the group, together with the gamers, coaches and followers. “As a result of I do know it’s been an extended, lengthy experience of not being in the playoffs and I do know it was proper in our fingertips and we’re not going.
“But at the same time, I know we’ve come a long way over two years and I’m excited about what we’ve got ahead of us.”
A yr after rating among the many league’s worst defenses, the Jets had a top-five unit with an AP Defensive Rookie of the 12 months front-runner in cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, who led the NFL with 20 passes defensed.
Whereas it was a irritating ending, Gardner predicted a postseason look for the Jets subsequent season.
“Now it’s to the point we can’t dwell on the past,” he stated. “We’ve got to just attack this offseason ’cause this time next year we’re going to be in the playoffs.”
New York’s protection recorded one sack, six tackles for loss and 9 quarterback hurries Sunday.
On offense, the Jets had the ball inside Miami’s 20-yard line twice, however settled for discipline objectives. The offense completed with 187 whole yards, going 0 for two in the crimson zone and seven for 16 on third downs.
With Mike White coping with rib accidents, Joe Flacco began and had 149 yards on 18-of-33 passing. It was the Jets’ fifth quarterback change this season due to accidents or poor play.
“I went out there today, and I honestly felt as good as I’ve ever felt,” stated Flacco, who turns 38 on Jan. 16. “I know there’s probably a lot of people out there that don’t look at it that way.”
Flacco stated he felt the Jets have the elite protection they want to make deep playoff runs. They simply want to make “a couple little adjustments” on offense.
What these changes ought to be is not but clear, with unknowns on the workforce’s most essential place. The Jets’ struggling second-year quarterback Zach Wilson was inactive Sunday, punctuating a tricky yr in which he was benched twice.
Because the Jets enter the offseason with the objective of getting wholesome, Wilson’s future with the workforce is murky. Saleh has repeatedly stated the Jets have faith in Wilson, however how far he can realistically take them regardless of being surrounded with expertise stays to be seen.
Wilson has 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 22 begins heading into his third professional season.
“We’ve got a good team,” Saleh stated. “We do. We’ve obtained an excellent workforce. (At) 7-4, it wasn’t a mirage. We’ve obtained a championship-caliber protection. We’ve obtained a bunch of younger guys which are going to be wholesome and get again right here … and I do know we’ll get the quarterback place proper.”
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