Have The 2014 NY Jets Been Competitive?

There is a persistent undercurrent of sentiment in some circles that, despite the 2-8 record, the Jets have been competitive this year and are just a few breaks away from being a contender.  This sentiment is misguided.

Consider the following chart showing the eight least competitive NFL teams in terms of overall point differential.  Also shown in the chart are overall records of each team and number of games either won or within six points of the opposition.  Why six points?  Because a team within six points is one possession, one score away from victory.  That's competitive.  In contrast, a team seven or more points behind is two scores from victory.  Oh, I know, a touchdown and a two point conversion in theory means victory when down by seven.  In theory that's fine.  In practice it's nonsense.  No team down seven points goes for the two point conversion, ever.   As a practical matter a team down seven is two scores from victory, which is a whole different kettle of fish from being one score away.  A team two scores away not only has to score a touchdown, they have to either recover an onsides kick or get a quick stop and then score again.  A team six points from victory is competitive; seven or more, not so much.  Now, to the chart.

The Jets have the 4th worst point differential in the NFL.  The Jets have the 6th worst point differential per game in the NFL.  The Jets have the 4th worst record in the NFL.  And the Jets have the 2nd least number of games won or within a score of winning in the NFL.  Even the 1-8 Bucs have been within a score of winning twice as much as the Jets. Finally, this Jets team has the worst per game point differential of any Jets team since the 1996 1-15 Jets.

Has this Jets team been competitive?  They are no better than 6th worst in the NFL in terms of record, point differential and point differential per game.  They are 2nd worst in terms of games they came within a score of winning.  If that's competitive then pretty much every team in the NFL is competitive.  So no, despite protestations to the contrary, this Jets team hasn't been competitive, and it is more than a break or two away from being a contender.  This Jets team is among the worst in the NFL no matter what measure you choose to score by.  This is a very bad team.  Competitive?  Only in our dreams.