2021 NFL Power Rankings, Week 6: Bummer In Britain

The New York Jets fell back to earth with a thud on Sunday after earning their first victory of the season the previous week. Nothing worked against the Atlanta Falcons in London. Zach Wilson was awful, the pass rush was largely absent, the running game didn’t show up. In general, the Jets looked like a team still suffering from jet lag against the Falcons. The Jets record under head coach Robert Saleh fell to 1-4. How did the power rankings feel about this loss? Let’s find out.

Pro Football Network

30. New York Jets

The great Dennis Green once said, “They are who we thought they were.” I’d say that applies here. Zach Wilson hopped back on the struggle bus in Week 5, missing or attempting to miss most throws. His ball placement was truly petrifying in almost every way imaginable.

I thought Wilson was the rawest of the QB prospects as an on-schedule passer, and that has shown through his first five games. The sack he took with 21 seconds left encapsulates his rookie season thus far. He makes the first man miss and then tries doing too much, leading to a horrible mistake.

Patience and progress are the keys going forward. This was always going to be a big jump for Wilson, and losing Mekhi Becton certainly hasn’t helped him.

Sports Illustrated

29. New York Jets (1-4)

Last week: Loss at Atlanta, 27–20 (London)

Next week: Bye

Clearly, the roster still needs a lot of work.

New York Post

30. Jets (1-4)

The Jets are averaging 2.6 points per game in the first half. It’s not just four points fewer than any other team. It’s unconscionably low. Unlike a week ago against the Titans, a second-half awakening (17 points) wasn’t enough against the Falcons in London. Good effort by the defense until a stop was really needed.

ESPN

29. New York Jets (1-4)

Most improved player: CB Bryce Hall

How they’ve improved: The 2020 fifth-round pick, who slipped in the draft because of a significant ankle injury near the end of his final season at Virginia, leads the Jets with five passes defensed. In fact, only eight players in the NFL have more than Hall, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Hall got his feet wet as a starter over the second half of last season, but he still was shaking off rust from the layoff. Now he is 100%, playing the role of CB1 and has a chance to be a long-term starter for the Jets.

USA Today

29. Jets

Surely playing second-year WR Denzel Mims, who’s averaged 24.3 yards on his three catches, more extensively could help open up the league’s lowest-scoring offense. Injured LT Mekhi Becton, Mims’ 2020 draftmate, agrees.

The loss didn’t seem to have much effect on the Jets in the NFL power rankings, primarily because the Jets were already close to the bottom before the loss.

With the obvious proviso that power rankings are stupid, unless they praise the Jets, in which case they’re awesome, what do you think? Where should the Jets rank in the NFL power rankings?