2021 NFL Power Rankings, Week 3: Thrown For A Loss

Well that didn’t take long. The good feelings of the offseason are quickly slipping away as the New York Jets plunge to the bottom of the pack. A second straight loss in which the Jets were never really in the game has the Jets faithful restless. To make matters worse, rookie quarterback Zach Wilson looked lost in one of the worst demonstrations of bad quarterbacking you are ever likely to see. The New York Jets lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday in a 25 - 6 blowout that could have been much worse had the Patriots not been running out the clock for much of the second half. How did the power rankings feel about this loss? Let’s find out.

Pro Football Network

29. New York Jets

The Jets are a bad football team, but they’re incredibly young. Their youth extends to their rookie quarterback, who Bill Belichick seems to always have success against. The Jets struggled immediately, with Zach Wilson throwing 2 interceptions on his first 2 pass attempts.

The struggles didn’t stop there for the rookie. He threw 2 more INTs throughout the game, further continuing the legend of Belichick vs. rookie QBs.

Sports Illustrated

30. New York Jets (0-2)

Last week: Loss vs. New England, 25–6

Next week: at Denver

A new era of Jets football has started out looking sort of like the Jets football we’ve all grown familiar with. I don’t want to overreact to one game against a Bill Belichick defense, but a four-interception day is the kind of performance that gets you a No. 30 ranking. It’s only temporary, but it feels right today.

New York Post

31. Jets (0-2)

Zach Wilson’s four interceptions on his first 10 passes against the Patriots were a horror show. Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith actually bested Bill Belichick as rookies, but both had much better teams around them than Wilson, even after the offseason investments. Boos in Wilson’s first home start show how little patience these fans have left.

ESPN

32. New York Jets (0-2)

Fantasy surprise: WR Braxton Berrios

Berrios is not one of the Jets’ top three receivers, but he has garnered unexpected playing time due to Jamison Crowder’s absence. Working as the slot receiver, Berrios leads the team in targets (18), catches (12) and receiving yards (124). The coaches really like him because he is a precise route runner. Clearly, QB Zach Wilson trusts him. Now, with Crowder poised to return, it’ll be interesting to see how they divide the playing time.

USA Today

30. Jets

Asked if he was seeing the same ghosts that led predecessor Darnold to throw four INTs against the Patriots in 2019, rookie QB Zach Wilson answered Sunday, “No, most definitely not.” But Wilson definitely saw he has a lot to learn about dropping the ball into NFL windows that are actually tightly shut.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. If it’s September, the Jets must be sliding toward the NFL basement.

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?