Jets Eliminated from Playoff Contention, What's the Next Move for New York?

After losing 32-26 against the Dolphins in overtime, the New York Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention. 

Expectations couldn't have been higher heading into the season with Aaron Rodgers healthy. The defense also started the season ranked as PFF's #1 defense. They ranked at the top of all position groups: secondary, linebackers, and defensive line. So how does a team go from being the best defense in the league to 3-10?

Aaron Rodgers Washed

I hate to point fingers, but if you've watched any Jets game this season, you know the problem starts with Aaron Rodgers. 

The best days are behind the four-time MVP. Before the loss to the Dolphins, Rodgers had gone 35 straight games without throwing over 300 passing yards. It was the longest streak out of any quarterback in the league. It's great that he finally snapped it, but if we didn't win, then who cares? 

Trading for Davante Adams completely backfired. Since joining the Jets in October, Adams has just one game with over 100 receiving yards. The chemistry that Rodgers and Adams once had seems to have stayed back in Green Bay. 

Despite Rodgers's subpar play, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Will Mcdonald IV, Sauce Gardner, Quincy Williams, and Quienen Williams are all pro bowl caliber players. There is no excuse to have only three wins.

We've seen teams in the past with mediocre quarterback play but enough talent at other positions to make the Super Bowl. I'm talking about Colin Kaepernick and Jimmy Garopollo. So why aren't the Jets young stars enough to get over the hump?

Front Office Meltdown

Jets owner Woody Johnson decided he'd seen enough after a week five loss to the Vikings. Robert Saleh's record with the Jets was 20-36. Zach Wilson started a majority of those games so that isn’t saying much. 

It was supposed to be Saleh's year to prove himself. He had all the puzzle pieces, but the team was still figuring out where the pieces were supposed to go. Woody didn't have the patience to see the puzzle through. 

A few weeks later, Woody fired General Manager Joe Douglas. Douglas was with the Jets for five seasons. I don't know what more he could have asked for. Douglas did everything right, but the team wasn't winning, so someone had to take the next bullet. 

Woody Johnson has no accountability; he fired the head coach and the general manager. After losing to the Broncos in week 4, he even proposed benching Aaron Rodgers. Today, it seems like the best idea, but at the moment, giving up on a four time MVP by week five sounded absurd. 

The Jets haven't made the playoffs since I was in the second grade. I turned 21 this year. Sell the team, Woody.