The Jets — whose league-leading 11-year playoff drought is nearly twice as long as its closest companion (Broncos) and ranks tied for ninth in NFL history — rarely offer excitement or intrigue. Optimism rarely stretches into October.
Despite a winnable game Sunday at Pittsburgh (1-2) that could bring the Jets (1-2) back to .500, they currently are projected to be an underdog in every game left on their schedule and have the third-lowest odds to make the playoffs (+1160, per FanDuel) of any team in the league.
But Zach Wilson’s first start of the season presents hope and possibility. No player will impact the trajectory of the team’s future more than the 23-year-old former No. 2 overall pick. If Wilson — playing behind an undermanned offensive line — can’t ignite an offense averaging just over 17 points per game, he can still spark the imagination of a fanbase consistently forced to look forward.
No one truly knows what the kid can do. We haven’t seen enough to make a proper evaluation. He’s spent 13 games under his helmet and a total of seven games on the sideline with right knee injuries. He threw an underwhelming nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a 55.6 completion percentage as a rookie, but he also displayed impressive scrambling ability and was victimized by the highest percentage of catchable balls dropped (12.7, per Pro Football Focus).
