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The Jets jumped a massive 14 places in the Yahoo ranking this week, moving from #24 to #10 after a resounding victory on the road against the pre-season favorite Colts. Frank Schwab is now a believer: The defense is obviously the strength of this team, but I do think some are sleeping on the offense a little bit too much.
10. New York Jets (2-0, LW: 24)
I was wrong about the Jets. Couldn't figure out how they'd be a playoff contender with that offense. Turns out it doesn't matter; the defense is just that good.
Elliot Harrison from NFL.com is also a believer, he has the Jets moving up 11 spots to #9. We may have had a small problem with the play-calling but Harrison didn't, he thought the gameplan was perfect. As he pointed out, Brandon Marshall has much higher expectations for the offensive production
Nerdy football note: The Jets' offensive strategy was on point Monday night. Stick with the run game on early downs -- draining clock, limiting Andrew Luck's possesses -- then exploit matchups in the secondary after the Colts' D starts leaning run. The Jets eventually threw more than they pounded the rock, yet several times Ryan Fitzpatrick saw something outside (like Brandon Marshall, on anybody) and simply went for it. Interesting that Marshall said of the offense after the game: "To be honest, I think we stunk it up." Looked alright to me.
On we go to SB Nation, our parent site. They also have the Jets moving up a massive 15 spots from number 25 to #10
The Washington Post are also feeling the Jets. Last week they had us at #18, which was quite high in comparison to others, this week they move us up to #10. They correctly pointed out that the credit goes to the defense for making the Colts look bad, rather than the other way around.
Todd Bowles, the Jets' first-year coach, deserves credit. Who would have envisioned a 2-0 beginning after the chaos of the preseason? But even then, Bowles's players spoke of the positive things they were seeing. Perhaps the Jets will emerge as the team to challenge the Patriots in the AFC East, a division that New England has won for six straight seasons. The opportunistic Jets defense certainly made the Indianapolis offense look bad Monday night
Even the folks over at NESN have some time for the Jets. Moving them from #22 last week to #11 today. They argue that it's tough to argue with the results, I'm not going to argue that.
New York Jets (Last week: 22): This is a huge jump, but credit where it's due. The Jets went into Indy and stomped out the Colts and are now 2-0. Tough to argue with the results.
Pro Football Talk aren't quite as high on the Jets, placing them at #14, but that is an upward spiral of 12 places. They do ask the question that I'm sure some Jets fans are thinking about indirectly:
14. Jets (2-0; No. 26): If they win it all, does IK Enemkpali get a ring?
Newsday have pushed the Jets into the top 10, placing them at #7. Bob Glauber obviously knows a little something something about the Jets. He chooses to focus on the 10 turnovers the Jets have created this year, remember that's only 3 shy of what the team accomplished the whole of last season. Ouch!
That's some defense Todd Bowles is putting out there this year. With a rebuilt secondary that general manager Mike Maccagnan splurged for in free agency and a terrific front seven, Bowles' team has a combined 10 turnovers in the first two weeks, compared to just 13 all of last season. A massive road win over Indy to get to 2-0.
Peter King didn't believe in the Jets 10 days ago, he sure does now. Protecting the football is vital, just ask Andrew Luck and the Colts.
8. N.Y. Jets (2-0). A ranking I never expected just 10 days ago. But the Jets are legit, as long as the quarterback doesn't get careless.
We're also going to pop Fan Speak up here. They admit that the defense is pretty special but they're not ready to buy into any play-off hype yet. The Jets are down at #15, behind the 0-2 Seahawks and behind the 0-2 Colts, behind the 1-1 Vikings and behind the 1-1 Bills, I guess we still have some convincing to do.
Who would have predicted a 2-0 start? Not us, but this defense is scary good and has them looking like contenders in the tough AFC East.
We're going to finish with ESPN who were the last two release their power rankings. They too now believe in the Jets, vaulting them 12 places to #9 on the list. The jump is courtesy of the Jets ability to not only force takeaways, but score off them too
The 2-0 Jets have scored 31 points off 10 takeaways this season. The Jets scored 20 points off 13 takeaways all of last season.