2014 Jets NFL Handicapping
Key Offensive Additions, Dominant Defense Will Make Jets A Playoff Contender
The New York Jets have followed up back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship game by missing the playoffs in three straight seasons. The reality is that despite a severe lack of talent at key positions the Jets still managed to finish 8-8 in two of those three years, including last season.
2014 New York Jets Team Preview/Predictions
- 2013 Record: 8-8
- ATS Record: 9-6-1
2014 Jets Futures
- Super Bowl Odds: +6600
- Conference Odds: +3300
- AFC East Odds: +900
- 2014 NFL Regular Season Wins: Over 6.5
That was enough for ownership to give head coach Rex Ryan an extension and another chance to bring Gang Green back to the postseason.
The Jets added some big names this offseason and that could be enough to get them over the .500 mark as they look to challenge for a playoff spot.
Quarterback Geno Smith struggled mightily in his rookie season with 12 touchdowns compared to 21 interceptions. A lack of maturity was part of it, but he also was forced to deal with a lack of playmakers around him, which the Jets addressed in free agency and the draft.
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New York signed the best free agent receiver available in Eric Decker as well as Jacoby Ford, and then drafted tight end Jace Amaro in the second round. Jeremy Kerley, Stephen Hill, and tight end Jeff Cumberland return as well.
The Jets also addressed their ground game when they signed Chris Johnson, who is a threat both as a runner and a pass-catcher out of the backfield, and is viewed as the perfect complement to the bruising Chris Ivory.
The offensive line is a strength with Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold and left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
Unwilling to gamble solely on Smith’s development, New York brought in veteran quarterback Michael Vick to push him in camp.
Vick is still a capable starter that can win games with the right supporting cast around him, and it wouldn’t shock anyone if he emerged as the team’s No. 1 option at some point in the season.
While the offense is in transition, the defense has perennially been one of the league’s best under Ryan.
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The Jets owned the NFL’s top-ranked run defense a year ago thanks in big part to a dominant front seven and are once again projected to be a top-five unit overall after upgrading their secondary in free agency and the draft.
Ryan got the hard-hitting safety with great range that he coveted in rookie first-round pick Calvin Pryor, and the team added cornerback Dexter McDougle in the third round. Cornerback Dimitri Patterson was added in free agency to push second-year pro Dee Milliner and veteran Kyle Wilson for a starting job.
All of that should add up to improved play in the secondary. Pro Bowl defensive end Muhammed Wilkerson and last year’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sheldon Richardson are back to wreak havoc along the line, and Quinton Coples has shown flashes that he can be a force at linebacker.
The Jets will need their secondary to better and if that happens then this defensive unit will be one of the best in the NFL.
As good as the defense will be, the offense is still a work in progress and will need time to come together.
The talent has been significantly upgraded for a team that went 8-8 a year ago despite some awful play at key positions, and this year Ryan won’t hesitate to make the move from Smith to Vick if that is his best option at quarterback.
The Jets will face a tough early season schedule that includes Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit, San Diego, Denver, and New England, but if they can survive that stretch they should be able to contend for an AFC playoff spot.
2014 Jets Predictions
- Place they’ll finish in AFC East: 2nd
- Place they’ll finish in AFC Conference: 9th
- Over/Under Wins Prediction: OVER
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