New York Jets: They were who we thought they were

After a horrid first half of the season, followed by an outstanding second half, the New York Jets finished with a 7-9 record. That’s right about where most thought they would finish.

It’s funny how things work out sometimes. I remember a conversation I had with my brother before the season started. My New York Jets prediction piece was in mid-write and I had them finishing between 7-9 and 9-7. He said that was the same take everyone else has. My reply was simple, the Jets are about a .500 team and I’d be lying if I wrote otherwise.

Gang Green had big holes. Their offensive line was bad. Aside from Jamal Adams, the secondary had big question marks. New Head Coach Adam Gase wanted nothing to do with GM Mike Maccagnon’s marquee offensive free-agent signing, running back Le’Veon Bell (the rift cost Maccagnon his job). Heck, the Jets could even find someone who could consistently kick an extra point.

Then the 2019 season started. It seemed like Murphy was controlling the team. If something could have gone wrong for the New York Jets, it went disastrously wrong. Middle linebacker, C.J. Mosely, Gang Green’s big acquisition on defense, put on a good show in the opener then got hurt. The offense struggled mightily, breaking 20 points only once in the first half of the season.

Franchise quarterback Sam Darnold came down with mononucleosis after the season opener and missed four games. His backup Trevor Siemian didn’t even make it to the half of his first Jets start before he was taken out of action with a gruesome ankle injury caused by Myles Garrett‘s late hit. Other assorted injuries happened but the “poo” really hit the fan at October’s trade deadline.

Rumors were that new GM Joe Douglas was talking with the Cowboys about trading Adams to Dallas. There has been no bigger team leader on the New York Jets in recent seasons than Jamal Adams. When the safety found out about the rumors, he went on a Twitter tirade. The next day he sat down with Gase and ironed the issue out. A loss to then winless Miami ended the first half. Then the season turned almost on a dime.

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A win over NYG was just what the New York Jets needed to right their ship. In the second half, the breaks started to even out. Darnold finally shook off his malaise.

The QB completed 163 of 267 for 1947 yards, with 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions. The beleaguered defense which allowed 23 or more points in six of the first nine games, only gave up over 22 points just once in the final seven.

A final win over Buffalo on Sunday brought Gang Green’s final record to 7-9. The same as most thought they would finish with before the season started. It doesn’t matter how they got there, just that they did. One of former coach Bill Parcells most famous quotes is “you are what your record says you are.” When the 2019 season ended, the New York Jets were close to a .500 team.

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